American Association of Nurse Practitioners Introduces 2024 Executive Leadership Program Cohort

Media Contact: Bryan Black

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP) is honored to announce the 2024 AANP Executive Leadership Program cohort. Twenty-two highly qualified nurse practitioners (NPs) were accepted into this competitive program.

"As AANP proudly unveils the 2024 Executive Leadership Program cohort, we celebrate the diverse talents and unwavering commitment of these nurse practitioners,” said AANP President Stephen A. Ferrara, DNP. “Through this competitive program, we empower NPs with the tools to excel in their roles and to drive transformative change, championing equitable access to quality care for all. Congratulations to each member of this esteemed diverse cohort on this well-deserved opportunity. We look forward to your future contributions and impact on patient care."

Working in partnership with The George Washington University (GWU) School of Nursing, the AANP Executive Leadership Program reinforces and further develops the professional attributes essential for effective leadership while expanding on the knowledge gained through attendance in the AANP Introductory Certificate on Leadership educational series. The 2024 program will be conducted both in person and online, with the first week-long session commencing April 8-12, followed by a webinar on May 8. The second session will take place June 3-7.

"Since the 1960s, NPs have been providing a wide range of primary, acute and specialty care services to patients and communities,” said Richard Ricciardi, PhD, CRNP, professor and associate dean at the GWU School of Nursing. “NPs have also been at the forefront of disruptive innovations aimed at improving health and expanding health care access in underserved and marginalized populations. Becoming visionary leaders to improve health and health care is not merely a strategic choice; it is a moral imperative. The quality of leadership directly influences patient outcomes, organizational performance, and the delivery of whole-person, person-centered, evidence-based, cost-effective and compassionate care.”

Using curriculum developed by the GWU School of Nursing and with an emphasis on content, the program fully incorporates ongoing coaching with top experts who will equip these dynamic individuals to serve as leaders across diverse settings to transform health and health care. Participants are required to complete specific assignments in advance of each weeklong session and share their experiences and challenges for discussion and recommendations.

Participants earn approximately 50 contact hours of continuing education credit upon program completion as they work toward developing the right mindset to influence others, make tough decisions and — most importantly — be an effective leader in an executive role.

“As executive leaders, NPs play a pivotal role in both the private and public sectors. They are instrumental in developing and implementing evidence-informed policies, as well as advocating for a culture of excellence where every patient receives the highest standard of care,” Ricciardi added.

Participants in the 2024 AANP Executive Leadership Program cohort include:

• Tiffany Andrews, MS, ACNP-BC, ENP-C, CCNS, CNE, of US Acute Care Solutions from Baltimore, Maryland.
• Cherie Avants, MSN, NP, PMGT-BC, AP-PMN, of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist from Winston Salem, North Carolina.
• Dawn Ball, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, FNPc, of Allegheny Health Network from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• LeeAnn Barfield, PhDc, DNP, APRN, of Florida State University College of Nursing from Tallahassee, Florida.
• Daniel Blaz, DNP, CNP, of Cleveland Clinic from Cleveland, Ohio.
• Sherry Churchill, ARNP, FNP-BC, of Jamestown Family Health Clinic from Sequim, Washington.
• Rosa A. Cleaver, MSN, APRN-CNP, of Cleveland Clinic Foundation from Wooster, Ohio.
• Marianne Fingerhood, DNP, ANP-BC, CNE, of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing from Baltimore, Maryland.
• Susan E. Foster, MS, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, of Riggs Community Health Center from Lafayette, Indiana.
• Daniel Gillen, FNP-C, of Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center from Kansas City, Missouri.
• David House, DNP, CRNP, ENP-C, FNP-BC, CNS, CNE, FAEN, FAANP, of The University of Alabama at Birmingham from Birmingham, Alabama.
• Erin Huprich, RN, MSN, WHNP-BC, CNE, of UNC Health from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
• Sun Jones, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, of the University of Phoenix from Phoenix, Arizona.
• Kimberly Krauklis, MSN, APRN, PNP-AC, NP-C, of the University of Texas Austin Dell Medical School from Austin, Texas.
• Glenna W. Lashley, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, of Lee University from Ooltewah, Tennessee.
• Sarah J. Locke, DNP, MBA, FNP-BC, RNC-OB, NE-BC, of the University of Arizona College of Nursing from Tucson, Arizona.
• Candace McAlester, DNP, MS, APRN, FNP-C, of ExxonMobil Corp from Spring, Texas.
• Celia McIntosh, DNP, RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CCRN, CEN, CNRN, SCRN, of McIntosh Advocacy & Consulting from Rochester, New York.
• Mikki Meadows-Oliver, PhD, APRN, FAAN, FAANP, of New York University from New York, New York.
• Brandi Snow, MSN, BSN, AGACNP-BC, of Duke University Health System from Durham, North Carolina.
• Sarah Summerton, FNP-BC, of ECU Health from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
• Azure L. Zeigler, DNP, FNP-BC, of Banner Health from Phoenix, Arizona.
  

###

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners^® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 385,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NPs' patients and other health care consumers. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner^®, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. To locate an NP in your community, visit npfinder.com. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org.