The academy’s program was established in 2000 to recognize nurse practitioner leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through nurse practitioner clinical practice, research, education, or policy. Priority initiatives of the academy are the development of leadership and mentorship programs for nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner students.
Fellows are visionaries committed to the global advancement of nursing through the development of imaginative and creative future nurse practitioner leaders’, and as such, hold an annual think tank to strategize about the future of nurse practitioners and health care outside the confines of traditional thinking. A limited number of nurse practitioners are selected for this highly coveted distinction each year.
“I am honored to be selected to be a fellow in the academy and look forward to participating in the significant work that the AANP completes in all aspects of the nurse practitioner role,” said Coppa. “My involvement will allow me to assist the students in URI’s graduate nursing program to stay apprised of the work being done by their professional organization to maintain excellence in the delivery of primary health care.”
“Denise Coppa is an outstanding clinician and educator,” said Dayle Joseph, dean of the College of Nursing. “Her career has been dedicated to improving clinical practice and because of this, she is most deserving of this prestigious award.”
The academy was founded in 1985 and is the oldest, largest and only full-service national professional organization for nursing practitioners of all specialties. It represents the interests of the approximate 125,000 nurse practitioners around the country.
This release was written by Alicia Blain, an intern in URI’s Department of Communications and Marketing and a public relations major.