The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the United States’ largest nurse practitioner professional organization, named four Georgetown University Berkley School of Nursing (SON) faculty members as fellows March 11.
AANP fellows, chosen by a committee, are awarded for exceptional contributions in clinical practice, research, education and policy, according to the AANP’s mission statement. The AANP will induct the Georgetown faculty, who were recognized for advancing health care and the field of nurse practice, June 25 at the organization’s national conference.
Lois Wessel (GRD ’96), one of the new fellows, said recognitions like these showcase the importance of Georgetown’s nursing faculty.
“I think that it really puts us on the map as key players in a very expansive field of nursing, and it really shows the kind of faculty who are at Georgetown, who I think tend to go above and beyond just doing your day job into professional organizations or in community health settings outside of the school,” Wessel told The Hoya. “So I think it’s really important for the Berkley School of Nursing.”
The four from Georgetown were among 59 fellows selected this year, joining the roughly 1,000 total fellows. The fellows work to further the impact of nurse practitioners around the country and to develop future leaders in the field.
Kwuan Paruchabutr, another professor and fellow, said the awards display Georgetown’s place at the forefront of the field.
“Having four faculty members recognized is a testament to the Georgetown School of Nursing’s standing as a powerhouse of clinical and academic excellence,” Paruchabutr wrote to The Hoya. “It lets our students and the broader community know that Georgetown is not just teaching nursing, but that we are actively shaping the future of the profession at the highest levels of policy and practice.”
Vera Barton-Maxwell, a third fellow who is the program director of SON’s family nurse practitioner (NP) program, said the fellowship is a recognition of her dedication to nurse practioning.
“Fellowship represents recognition by peers of sustained global contributions to clinical practice, education, leadership and advocacy that advance the role of NPs and improve access to high-quality healthcare,” Barton-Maxwell wrote to The Hoya. “Being selected as an AANP Fellow represents both recognition of past contributions and a renewed commitment to service, leadership and advocacy in support of the NP profession and the patients and communities we serve.”
Barton-Maxwell said she has worked to prepare nurse practitioners in all aspects of care.
“Together, these efforts, spanning practice, leadership, scholarship and education, reflect my commitment to advancing NP practice, improving cardiovascular health outcomes and preparing NPs to lead in transforming patient-centered healthcare both nationally and globally,” Barton-Maxwell wrote.
Paruchabutr said becoming a fellow is exciting because she has the opportunity to collaborate with other healthcare leaders.
“Being inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) is an honor and reflects the culmination of my NP career thus far,” Paruchabutr wrote. “To me, it represents a validation of years dedicated to advancing the nurse practitioner role. I will join a cohort of visionaries where I can further influence healthcare and mentor the next generation of NP leaders.”
Wessel said that in her application to the AANP, she highlighted her work training Spanish-speaking health care workers.
“I’ve probably trained close to 300 Spanish-speaking community health workers across the country to be more informed about working with patients with diabetes, and I would say that that is probably the most important, because it’s real, it’s tangible,” Wessel said.
Barton-Maxwell said she hopes to add to the AANP’s work by training future nurse practitioners.
“Throughout my career as an NP leader, educator and clinician with expertise in cardiovascular care and heart failure, I have been committed to preparing the next generation of NP clinicians, advancing evidence-based practice and advocating for policies that expand access to care and support full practice authority for NPs,” Barton-Maxwell wrote.
“Through continued engagement in scholarship, education, policy advocacy and professional service, I hope to contribute to the collective work of AANP Fellows in strengthening the NP workforce and advancing the profession nationally and globally,” Barton-Maxwell added.
