The NPAA Awards provide an opportunity to give recognition to individual healthcare providers, educators, advocates, and the “in-the trenches” team members and leaders who inspire, motivate, and empower others around them to make a difference in the lives of those for whom they provide care.
Alabama Nurse Practitioner of the Year
- Demonstrates excellence as an NP and as a role model for other nurse practitioners and the nursing profession in general.
• Demonstrates significant contribution to the improvement of care for individuals, families and/or communities.
• Is creative in his/her approach to nursing care through elective communication and quality of care.
• Utilized current research in practice.
• Active Member of NPAA OR is an active member of local NP affiliate.
• Is licensed as a nurse practitioner in the State
Nomination:
This nominee has been a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2016 and is a three-time graduate from the University of Alabama and also an alumnus of Troy University, where she earned her post-master’s certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned a post-doctoral certificate in the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner concentration in 2023 from the University of Massachusetts Global and currently practices as a Family and Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner .
This person creatively approaches advanced practice nursing through effective communication with patients, providers, and other audiences as a provider and healthcare consultant.
She decided to pursue her PMHNP certification after recognizing a need for more mental health providers within the state of Alabama. She realized how the limited number of mental and behavioral health providers created a lack of access to comprehensive healthcare.
She is the founder and CEO of Renewed Focus Consulting and shares her expertise through speaking engagements encouraging and supporting women and children in their journeys towards better self-care. She uses her platform to advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
She serves as a role model and mentor to other Nurse Practitioners across the state of Alabama. Through her care, compassion, and expertise she exemplifies all the qualities of someone deserving of the Alabama Nurse Practitioner of the Year award.
It is my pleasure to present the 2024 NPAA Alabama Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award to Dr. Jimel Gibbs.
Outstanding Faculty Award
This award is designed to recognize a NP faculty who is committed to the excellence of educating nurse practitioner students.
• Demonstrates excellence in academic performance.
• Demonstrates leadership within the University/College setting
• A resident of Alabama.
• Currently teaching in a four year college within Alabama
• Is a certified nurse practitioner.
Nomination:
This nominee is described as an invaluable educator for the Capstone College of Nursing at The University of Alabama since 2017, where she serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor. She began her academic faculty career in 2017 with the undergraduate program, quickly establishing herself as a resolute and innovative educator. In 2018, she was recruited to work with both the graduate and undergraduate programs until 2019, when she was appointed Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Coordinator.
Her contributions as FNP Program Coordinator were numerous and impactful. She developed a comprehensive Clinical Guideline Book, implemented a systematic process for evaluating clinical sites and preceptors, and introduced innovative learning tools and assignments. Her initiatives ensured that the FNP program remained robust, comprehensive, and well-aligned with current healthcare demands, improving student outcomes and program quality. During her five years coordinating the FNP program, the program moved from 7th to 4th in the U.S. News & World Report ranking for the best online MSN program for FNPs in 2023 and consistently receives outstanding evaluations from her students, who praise her for her engaging teaching style and her ability to make complex concepts accessible.
In addition to her academic role, she has demonstrated exceptional clinical expertise through her work in a collaborative practice with the Good Samaritan Clinic of Tuscaloosa, a Christian ministry that operates by donations and in-kind gifts from community partners and volunteer hours where she cares for rural and medically underserved patients. As a family nurse practitioner, her clinical practice is focused on acute and chronic disease management, disease prevention, and health promotion and was able to offer clinical experiences for her graduate FNP students.
It is my pleasure to present the 2024 NPAA Outstanding Faculty Award to Dr. Rebecca Martin.
Preceptor of the Year Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize a Nurse Practitioner Preceptor who is committee to the excellence of clinical education of Nurse Practitioners through Preceptorship.
• Demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the clinical education of Nurse Practitioners.
• Serves as a role model for other nurse practitioners and the nursing profession in general.
• Active Member of NPAA OR is an active member of local NP affiliate
• Is licensed as a nurse practitioner in the State of Alabama
• Served as a Preceptor for at least three years.
Nomination:
This nominee completed her masters at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2010 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Alabama in 2015. She currently serves as the GYN Health Coordinator for the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and has proven her ability to assist Nurse Practitioners and NP students in becoming successful, competent, and confident providers.
She has served as a clinical preceptor for over 14 years she has mentored and trained countless individuals across professions providing thousands of hours of preceptorship in public health, disease control, and women’s health complex care.
Currently, in her role at the Birmingham VAMC, she serves as the new hire preceptor for the required 12-week orientation period and provides up to six months of continued mentorship for new employees. As a testament to the excellent training experiences she offers, a recent new hire at the VA expressed her gratitude and described the confidence she now has as a provider after shadowing and learning with this nominee.
In addition to her practice responsibilities, she is an extremely active member of the Nurse Practitioner community on the local, regional, and national levels. She is an expert consultant for the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) and a faculty member for the Southeast Prevention Training Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been an involved member of NPAA, the Central Alabama Nurse Practitioner Association (CANPA), and this year was elected to serve as the State Liaison for Alabama with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for 2024-2026.
It is my pleasure to present the 2024 NPAA Preceptor of the Year Award to Dr. Brittany Sanders.
NP Student Leadership Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an NP student who is committed to the excellence of clinical practice.
• Excellence in academic performance.
• Demonstrates leadership through a formal or informal leadership role.
• Currently enrolled in a Nurse Practitioner program in Alabama.
• Active Member of NPAA OR is an active member of local NP affiliate
• Is a registered nurse in the state of Alabama
Nomination:
This nominee started her career as an LPN in 2011 and then became a registered nurse who graduated in 2016 from Central Alabama Community College. She has over 14 years’ experience in dermatology and aesthetics and is currently an FNP student at Walden University. She is the Alabama State Nursing Association District 5 Secretary and serves the NPAA as a student member at large. She has gone above and beyond in her role as a student member and It is my pleasure to present the 2024 NPAA Student Leadership Award to Brittney Brasington.
At this time we would also like to recognize two of our NPAA members who were awarded AANP Alabama State Awards.
We would like to congragulate Maggie Hughes for the AANP State Award for Excellence.
We would also like to honor Dr. Joy Deupree for receiving the 2024 AANP Advocate State Award.