AANP National Leadership Awards — the Sharp Cutting Edge Award and the Towers Pinnacle Award — honor two individuals who have contributed significantly to the national or international recognition and advancement of nurse practitioners (NPs).
Learn more about the recipients of previous AANP National Leadership Awards below.
The Sharp Cutting Edge Award was initiated in February 1996 in honor of Nancy J. Sharp, MSN, RN, FAAN, an exemplar in the world of nursing organizational leadership for more than two decades. Nancy demonstrated a decisive positive influence for NPs, both professionally and politically. Not an NP herself, Nancy nevertheless left a legacy of early and steadfast service for NPs. Through her vision, foresight and service to the NP profession, Nancy focused on public policy issues clarifying the legislative and regulatory processes. She also utilized innovative strategies to meet major milestones as an office staff member and a volunteer leader in national nursing organizations. Examples of her many accomplishments are National President, American Nephrology Nurses Association (1981-1983); Director, Practice and Legislation, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, Neonatal Nurses (1982-1990); Founding Director, Nurse in Washington Internship (1985-1992); Editor-Publisher, The Nurse’s Directory of Capitol Connections: A Directory of Positions and Opportunities for Nurse Participation in Health Policy Development (1991-2000); Nurse Representative, U.S. Joint Working Group on Telehealth (1993-1997).
Susan Kendig, JD, WHNP-BC, FAANP, received the 2022 Sharp Cutting Edge Award for her efforts to advance the NP role through policy, education and practice. She is a women’s health NP and attorney from Missouri with more than 40 years of experience in health care. Kendig once said, “I went to law school because health care was such a mess, and I decided I was going to fix it.” Health care providers across the country are grateful she did! Throughout her extensive service and participation in women’s health initiatives, Kendig's ability to bring together diverse stakeholders, raise community voices and craft innovative solutions has led to improvement in health care.
As of 2022, AANP celebrated 26 years of Sharp Cutting Edge Awards and is proud to have recognized nine Sharp Cutting Edge Award recipients, along with 17 recipients honored by the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), for their leadership and innovation in advancing NP practice and patient care.
Meet the awardees:
Recipients of the Sharp Award have demonstrated extraordinary service activities on behalf of NPs. This award is for achievements that have impacted the NP profession on a national or international level and incorporated the AANP mission into the initiative(s). Additionally, recipients have demonstrated and promoted diversity, equity and inclusivity within health care through social justice initiatives that have increased access to quality health care for all.
Recipients may be an NP, nurse or non-nurse who has demonstrated exceptional belief and confidence in NPs and has shown efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of NPs at the national or international level in three or more of the following areas:
Award recipients will be notified in mid-March and should plan to be present at the 2023 AANP National Conference in New Orleans on June 20-25 to accept their award. Recipients will receive round-trip airfare for this conference and one-night accommodations at a conference hotel.
Disclaimer: For elected officials, regulators, appointees, federal employees and military at both the state and federal levels (“government employee”), AANP cannot provide items of value. Individuals in these positions will receive public recognition and be presented with a certificate but will not receive additional items. If you are a government employee and inadvertently receive an offer from AANP that includes additional benefits as part of an award, please alert staff since AANP is not always aware — or informed — that an awardee holds such a position.
The Towers Pinnacle Award was launched in 2013 by the AANP Board of Directors in honor of Jan Towers, Ph.D., NP-C, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, an accomplished and much-admired leader in the NP movement. Dr. Towers has been at the forefront of legislative and regulatory issues, guiding health policy initiatives to ensure that NPs and their patients are represented wherever health care is being discussed. She has informed and educated numerous NPs on issues related to health policy through presentations at regional and national conferences. Her steadfast commitment, keen insight and vigilance have served to guide and direct NPs toward their current recognition as reimbursable providers of high-quality health care nationwide. The result of her life’s work is increased awareness by legislators and the general public of NPs’ contributions to health care, as well as advancement in expanding the scope of practice for NPs, advocating for equity in pay for services and expanding the commitment of NP professional organizations to provide leadership on health policy issues.
Elizabeth McDaniel, MBA, MSN, FNP-C, was awarded the 2022 Towers Pinnacle Award for her work as a director of advanced practice clinicians in Alabama representing more than 1,600 NPs and PAs across one of the largest health care enterprises in North America. She has not only expanded the role of NPs, but she has also actively addressed barriers to NP practice at the organizational, state and national levels. McDaniel has made significant contributions to the next generation of advanced practice leaders by implementing a leadership training program to provide new leaders with the tools and education needed to lead successful, hospital-based, advanced practice programs. Her resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic inspired others, contributed to staff retention and helped ensure patients received the highest quality care.
Meet the awardees:
Recipients of this prestigious award have exemplified Dr. Towers’ advocacy, passion and dedication to the advancement of the NP role through policy, practice and education. Additionally, these individuals have demonstrated and promoted diversity, equity and inclusivity within health care through social justice initiatives that have increased access to quality health care for all.
This award is for achievements that have impacted the NP profession on a national or international level and incorporated the AANP mission into the success of the initiative(s).
Nominees are preferably NPs; however, consideration is given to other individuals who have made outstanding contributions resulting in increased recognition of NPs and increased opportunities for NPs to provide care to patients through ongoing work in policy, practice and education at the national or international level in three of the five following areas:
Award recipients will be notified in mid-March and should plan to be present at the 2023 AANP National Conference in New Orleans on June 20-25 to accept their award. Recipients will receive round-trip airfare for this conference and one-night accommodations at a conference hotel.
Disclaimer: For elected officials, regulators, appointees, federal employees and military at both the state and federal levels (“government employee”), AANP cannot provide items of value. Individuals in these positions will receive public recognition and be presented with a certificate but will not receive additional items. If you are a government employee and inadvertently receive an offer from AANP that includes additional benefits as part of an award, please alert staff since AANP is not always aware — or informed — that an awardee holds such a position.