Celebrating Ten Years of AANP Communities
Join the AANP Community co-chairs for a look back on a decade of cooperation and networking.
In 2015, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) celebrated 30 years as an organization representing the interests of the approximately 140,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) in the U.S. That same year, AANP Communities debuted as a members-only resource where NPs working in or simply interested in a specialty could join and engage in discussions, share resources and network with colleagues.
Today, AANP is 40 years old; proudly advocates on behalf of over 431,000 NPs nationwide; and celebrates 10 years of the AANP Communities. The total number of communities recently hit 32, offering a space for members interested in specialties like neurology, wound care and pediatrics to share knowledge and resources with their fellow NPs. To celebrate 10 years of AANP Communities, several co-chairs spoke about what brought them to guide their communities and what membership means to them.
Community Co-Chairs in Their Own Words
Elena Prendergast, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ACHPN, is both the inaugural co-chair of the Hospice and Palliative Care Community and a prime mover in getting the community created. “I put in the petition to the board to make the case that this was something I thought would be worthwhile for NPs in this organization, and they thought so as well,” she recalls. Doug Smith, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN, FCCM, co-chair of the Acute Care Community, was encouraged to step up to the position by the previous co-chair, a colleague of his. “She knew I was eager to find opportunities to grow professionally within AANP, and she suggested it to me as she was getting ready to step down,” he says. “It felt like an excellent fit — I'd already experienced the value of our communities as a place to share knowledge and connect with others in similar roles. Taking on the co-chair position seemed like a meaningful way to contribute and help guide the conversation within our specialty.”
Prendergast sees her community this way: “I look at it as a safe space for people to ask questions and get additional information.” This is especially true for new NPs who are curious about Pendergast’s specialty but want to learn more. “We serve as that launching point,” she says. “Myself and the other co-chair of our community [Brett Snodgrass, FNP-C, CPE, ACHPN, FAANP], we’ve created libraries. And in those libraries, we house a lot of resources that we think would be helpful to anybody in our specialty.”
Smith believes that AANP Communities “offer some of the most accessible and impactful benefits of AANP membership. They create a direct avenue for specialty-specific discussions, mentorship and the latest best practices. Whether you’re just starting or have years of experience in your practice, the insights and connections available here can help you stay sharp, supported and engaged. This is especially valuable for those in niche specialties or rural areas who may not have many colleagues in the same field; having a national network of peers is invaluable.”
Rebecca Graves, Ph.D., NP-C, FAANP, is the co-chair of the Obesity Community. She was introduced to the Obesity Community by a colleague and then applied for and was given the co-chair position in 2021. “I was very excited and humbled to learn that I had been selected,” she says. Alongside her co-chair and mentor Nancy T. Browne, MS, PPCNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, she believes the goal of her community “is to stimulate interaction among members of the community in problem solving, thought exercises and information sharing. We encourage members to ask and answer questions about the practice; share new recommendations and experiences; and expand our knowledge through new research publications and presentations. We also like to celebrate the accomplishments of our members and do some exercises that encourage self-care, collegiality and communality.”
Vanessa Pomarico, Ed.D, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, is co-chair of the Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community. Part of her work as co-chair is “to stay on top of legislation affecting the LGBTQIA+ population and share when bills will be affecting our patient population,” and she also likes to “post helpful articles on a variety of subjects such as disparities among certain ethnic groups and changes in our lab testing or share links to ways people can celebrate holidays in an effort to recognize Juneteenth, Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, etc.”
Face Time
Pomarico is looking forward to the 2025 AANP National Conference, where there will be a networking event with members of her AANP Community. She is also excited about speaking with people at her community’s booth in the exhibit hall: “That's where I get to meet our members face to face and talk with them individually about what they want to see in our DEI Community.” Graves also notes the importance of meeting other members of the community in person. With her co-chair, “we have increased face-to-face interaction/availability with the community at conferences, which truly has been rewarding.”
To NPs curious about joining an AANP Community, Graves says that “I hope that AANP members ranging from new graduates to post-retirement know they are welcome in the AANP Communities. There is a seat for everyone, and we can all benefit from each member regardless of experience.”
The reception for the AANP Communities at the 2025 AANP National Conference will take place on Friday, June 20, 4-5 p.m. in Room 9 at the San Diego Convention Center. The event is open to all conference attendees.
Become a Part of the AANP Communities Today
Members of AANP may join one of the AANP Communities for just $20 annually, prorated to your membership term. Other benefits available to members of AANP include access to clinical reference tools, a free online subscription to two NP journals and discounts on certification and recertification.