AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) proudly announces the recipients of the 2021 AANP State Award for Excellence. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements by nurse practitioners (NPs) and NP advocates in each state and honors recipients annually during the AANP National Conference. Established in 1991, the State Award for Excellence is given to an NP in each state who demonstrates excellence in clinical practice. In 1993, the state award for NP advocates was added to highlight the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of NPs. Congratulations and thanks are due each of the individuals listed below.
Alabama
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Aimee Holland
Advocate: Dr. Eileen Meyer
Alaska
Nurse Practitioner: Rachael Carlson
Advocate: Dr. Javid Kamali
Arizona
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Timian Godfrey
Advocate: Dr. Lydia Cohan
Arkansas
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Kimberly Hill
Advocate: Yvonia Finley
California
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Jennifer Ballard-Hernandez
Advocate: Assemb. Jim Wood
Colorado
Nurse Practitioner: Rebecca Garber
Advocate: Sen. Joann Ginal
Connecticut
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Lindita Vinca
Advocate: Dr. Lynn Rapsilber
Delaware
Nurse Practitioner: Ema Ndi
Advocate: Dr. James Gill
District of Columbia
Nurse Practitioner: Carolyn Summer
Advocate: Laura Worby
Florida
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Lucie Dlugasch
Advocate: Dr. Mai Kung
Georgia
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Heather Quaile
Advocate: Julianna McConnell
Hawaii
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Bradley Kuo
Advocate: Lee Ann Teshima
Idaho
Nurse Practitioner: Brad Bigford
Advocate: Cynthia Dalsing
Illinois
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Susan Corbridge
Advocate: Dr. Marie Lindsey
Indiana
Nurse Practitioner: Theresa Coyner
Advocate: Fmr. Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer
Iowa
Nurse Practitioner: Theresa Hohertz
Advocate: Cecilia (Jodi) Tomlonovic
Kansas
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Benjamin Cochran
Advocate: Elizabeth Patton
Kentucky
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Jessica Estes
Advocate: Carol Darwin
Louisiana
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Tavell Kindall
Advocate: Dr. Rebekah Gee
Maine
Nurse Practitioner: Sara Hayes
Advocate: Dr. Valerie Fuller
Maryland
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Elizabeth Galik
Advocate: Dr. Laurie Scudder
Massachusetts
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Julianne Nemes Walsh
Advocate: Gov. Charlie Baker
Michigan
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Mary Anne McCoy
Advocate: Patricia Wells
Minnesota
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Maria Ruud
Advocate: Sara Forrest
Mississippi
Nurse Practitioner: Stephanie Gale
Advocate: Dr. Wanda Stroupe
Missouri
Nurse Practitioner: Brandon Forester
Advocate: Sen. Eric Burlison
Montana
Nurse Practitioner: Valerie Anderson
Advocate: Kelly Gregory
Nebraska
Nurse Practitioner: Jenni Gallagher
Advocate: Cora Schrader
Nevada
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Cameron Duncan
Advocate: Sen. Joyce Woodhouse
New Hampshire
Nurse Practitioner: Mary Vigeant
Advocate: Dr. Wendy Wright
New Jersey
Nurse Practitioner: Elise Rohana
Advocate: Dr. Amita Avadhani
New Mexico
Nurse Practitioner: Vernon Osborn
Advocate: Dr. Gloria Doherty
New York
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Joan Miravite
Advocate: Dr. Colleen Walsh-Irwin
North Carolina
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Kathryn Kreider
Advocate: Comm. Josh Dobson
North Dakota
Nurse Practitioner: Andrea Klizer
Advocate: Dr. Adam Hohman
Ohio
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Carol Savrin
Advocate: Christine Williams
Oklahoma
Nurse Practitioner: Jayme Taylor
Advocate: Susan Brown
Oregon
Nurse Practitioner: Shelby Freed
Advocate: Dr. Benjamin Colburn
Pacific U.S. Territories
Nurse Practitioner: Sheri Tackett
Advocate: Kathleen Fernandez
Pennsylvania
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Deborah Pora
Advocate: Dr. Lorraine Bock
Puerto Rico
Nurse Practitioner: Iris Ramos
Advocate: Gladys Velez
Rhode Island
Nurse Practitioner: Carol Annunziata
Advocate: Matthew Roman
South Carolina
Nurse Practitioner: Kathleen Boone
Advocate: Judith Zink
South Dakota
Nurse Practitioner: Rebekka Klemme
Advocate: Dr. Abigail Gramlick-Mueller
Tennessee
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Heather Jackson
Advocate: Jennifer Conrad-Rendon
Texas
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Elizabeth Ellis
Advocate: Dr. Jessica Peck
Utah
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Michelle Litchman
Advocate: Dr. Beth Luthy
Vermont
Nurse Practitioner: Jeri Wohlberg
Advocate: Dan Bennett
Virginia
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Shelly Smith
Advocate: Dr. Carolyn Rutledge
Washington
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Diane Fuller Switzer Advocate: Nancy Lawton
West Virginia
Nurse Practitioner: Joyce Wilson
Advocate: Dr. Toni DiChiacchio
Wisconsin
Nurse Practitioner: Dr. Maureen Greene
Advocate: Dr. Gina Bryan
Wyoming
Nurse Practitioner: Sarah-Anne Galloway
Advocate: Sen. Jeff Wasserburger
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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 290,000 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.org. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org and WeChooseNPs.org. For COVID-19 information from AANP, visit aanp.org/COVID19.