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Meet the 2022 State Award for Excellence Recipients

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AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) proudly announces the recipients of the 2022 AANP State Award for Excellence. Presented annually, this prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements by nurse practitioners (NPs) and NP advocates in each state and honors recipients 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.

  • 2022 AANP State Award for Excellence Recipients

    Alabama

    Nurse Practitioner: Melanie Hallman
    Advocate: Jim McClendon

    Alaska

    Nurse Practitioner: Tracey Wiese
    Advocate: Stephanie Wrightsman-Birch

    Arizona

    Nurse Practitioner: Katie Wall
    Advocate: Christy Pacheco

    Arkansas

    Nurse Practitioner: Rhonda Finnie
    Advocate: Dave Wallace

    California

    Nurse Practitioner: Serena Arts
    Advocate: Ron Ordona

    Colorado

    Nurse Practitioner: Sara Schaefer
    Advocate: Colleen Whalen-Casper

    Connecticut

    Nurse Practitioner: Kim Gambino
    Advocate: Kimberly Sandor

    Delaware

    Nurse Practitioner: Rebecca Hammond
    Advocate: Susan Conaty-Buck

    District of Columbia

    Nurse Practitioner: Kathleen Malliarakis
    Advocate: Lisa Covel

    Florida

    Nurse Practitioner: Monica Barfield
    Advocate: Vicky Stone-Gale

    Georgia

    Nurse Practitioner: Regina Canty
    Advocate: Lisa Eichelberger

    Hawaii

    Nurse Practitioner: Katrina Lu
    Advocate: Mandi Cummings

    Idaho

    Nurse Practitioner: Melody Weaver
    Advocate: Kristine Theis

    Illinois

    Nurse Practitioner: Ricki Loar
    Advocate: Susan Swart

    Indiana

    Nurse Practitioner: Sonya Ruedlinger
    Advocate: Caitlin Krouse

    Iowa

    Nurse Practitioner: Michelle Hunerdosse

    Kansas

    Nurse Practitioner: Jason Burk
    Advocate: Dan Hawkins

    Kentucky

    Nurse Practitioner: Donna Isfort
    Advocate: Scotty Combs

    Louisiana

    Nurse Practitioner: Erin Pierce
    Advocate: Marc Matrana

    Maine

    Nurse Practitioner: Theresa Knowles
    Advocate: Pamela Cahill

    Maryland

    Nurse Practitioner: Kamala Via
    Advocate: Adelaide Eckardt

    Massachusetts

    Nurse Practitioner: Constance Flynn
    Advocate: Ronald Mariano

    Michigan

    Nurse Practitioner: Jordana Latozas
    Advocate: Jacquelen Timm

    Minnesota

    Nurse Practitioner: Jennifer Bold
    Advocate: Natalie Mohammad

    Mississippi

    Nurse Practitioner: Derek Holt
    Advocate: Russ Latino

    Missouri

    Nurse Practitioner: Maria Walls
    Advocate: Heidi Lucas

    Montana

    Nurse Practitioner: Heidi Fritz
    Advocate: David King

    Nebraska

    Nurse Practitioner: Kimberly Bland
    Advocate: Douglass Haas

    Nevada

    Nurse Practitioner: Michelle Giddings-White
    Advocate: Sally Miller

    New Hampshire

    Nurse Practitioner: Siobhan Benham
    Advocate: Kimberlie Mohan

    New Jersey

    Nurse Practitioner: Maura Abbott
    Advocate: Arthur DeSimone

    New Mexico

    Nurse Practitioner: Kathy Fresquez-Chavez
    Advocate: Elaine Brightwater

    New York

    Nurse Practitioner: Margaret O'Donnell
    Advocate: Evelyn Addo-Wallace

    North Carolina

    Nurse Practitioner: Ragan Johnson
    Advocate: Gale Adcock

    North Dakota

    Nurse Practitioner: Mykell Barnacle
    Advocate: Jenna Herman

    Ohio

    Nurse Practitioner: Tina Resser
    Advocate: Jordan Bonomo

    Oklahoma

    Nurse Practitioner: Kristy Baker
    Advocate: Lois Salmeron

    Oregon

    Nurse Practitioner: Noelle McLaughlin
    Advocate: Rachel Prusak

    Pennsylvania

    Nurse Practitioner: Tarik Khan
    Advocate: Lisa Boscola

    Puerto Rico

    Nurse Practitioner: Sylvia Pérez
    Advocate: Angelica Matos-Rios

    Rhode Island

    Nurse Practitioner: Mary Lavin
    Advocate: James McDonald

    South Carolina

    Nurse Practitioner: Margaret Johnson
    Advocate: Brad Hutto

    South Dakota

    Nurse Practitioner: Deb Hickman
    Advocate: Robin Arends

    Tennessee

    Nurse Practitioner: Bobby Bellflower
    Advocate: Mavis Schorn

    Texas

    Nurse Practitioner: Alvin Mena Cantero
    Advocate: Casey Haney

    Utah

    Nurse Practitioner: Kimberlee Bayless
    Advocate: Doug Welton

    Vermont

    Nurse Practitioner: Emily LeVan
    Advocate: Ellen Watson

    Virginia

    Nurse Practitioner: Carole Everhart
    Advocate: Jennifer Kiggans

    Washington

    Nurse Practitioner: Marie Annette Brown
    Advocate: Joelle Fathi

    West Virginia

    Nurse Practitioner: Anitra Ellis
    Advocate: Heather Tully

    Wisconsin

    Nurse Practitioner: Rachael Cabral-Guevara
    Advocate: Patrick Testin

    Wyoming

    Nurse Practitioner: Kathleen Petro
    Advocate: Heith Waddell


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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 325,000 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.

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