President-Elect Candidate
Campaign Message
As a devoted AANP member, I am proud to have served in many AANP leadership positions over the years and thrilled to see where we are today when compared to our humble beginnings as an organization. My intentions would be to continue to support AANP's mission and strategic priorities. Specifically , I would support and promote efforts to gain Full Practice Authority (FPA) in all 50 states and US territories, work on further establishing and strengthening AANP's relationships with identified key stakeholders and be open to ideas and address the concerns of our members. As an NP who has spent a long career clinically addressing the health care needs of children, I would propose additional focus on the issues impacting children's health. Working with other key stakeholders, educating and advocating in this space, we can make a difference in the health of this most vulnerable population of patients.
Bio Sketch
Karen Ketner graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a Master s/Family Nurse Practitioner in 1985 and received a DNP from the University of San Francisco in 2015. Her clinical focus is Pediatrics. From January 2016 until June of 2025, she served as the first Executive Director of Advanced Practice for Santa Clara County Healthcare, An educator, Dr. Ketner served as Co-director and Lecturer for the FNP Program at San Jose State University from 2000 until 2007. Dr. Ketner has successfully held volunteer professional leadership positions since 1986. She has served as an AANP State Representative and Regional Director for many terms. She was elected AANP Treasurer in 2021 and continues to serve a third term in that role. She is the liaison to the BOD for the AANP History Committee. After years of participation on the Board of Directors at the state and local levels of the California Association for Nurse Practitioners (CANP), she was elected President of CANP in 2009./2010. Ketner received AANP s State Award for Excellence California in 2007. In 2016, she was named a Fellow of FAANP and named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2018.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing NPs in the delivery of health care over the next decade? How should AANP address this issue to support NPs and the populations they serve?
The barriers to NP practice that still exist that have led to inconsistency in practice environments, including states with Full Practice Authority (FPA). NPs face challenges with transition to practice hours, collaborative agreements, prescriptive authority, including for controlled substances, signature authority, and reimbursement. As the professional organization representing the interests of all NPs, AANP is in the unique position to influence elimination of these barriers and establish consistency in practice through monitoring legislation for timely intervention, building stronger relationships with the state NPOs and providing education and the tools necessary for effective advocacy by and on behalf of our members.
Describe, in detail, leadership and other professional skills that you will bring to AANP and provide at least one initiative or outcome that occurred because of these skills.
The ability to objectively support NPs which ultimately benefits patients. I am an influential leader who uses data and logic to make change.. In my role as Director of Advanced Practice in a large public health care system, I have been able to influence change, that supports NPs. These changes have included inclusion in many initiatives, representation on important committees, Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules edits and the establishment of a desirable work life. Because of my work on our Bylaws Committee, NPs can vote on the Medical Staff committees and Peer Review now always includes another NP in the
Identify one major challenge that could impact your ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position you are seeking. How do you plan to manage this challenge to be successful?
My job. If elected, I would plan my work schedule around the responsibilities required by both the President-elect and President positions at AANP. This is very doable as my employer is very supportive of me assuming these roles and I have flexibility with advanced knowledge of responsibilities and schedules.
AANP’s mission is to empower all NPs to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality health care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. If elected, how do you propose to advance AANP's mission and strategic plan?
By continuing to support strategies that are effective and focusing effort where needed. AANP's Practice Committee is responsive to questions and feedback from members. Additionally, the AANP communities are focusing on specific practice areas. Our conferences have come in house and are exceptional. Conference evaluations have led to member-driven changes in the programs. Advocacy efforts need support through close monitoring and focused advocacy in states that are identified for these efforts by SGA. I would continue to promote financial support of scholarships and grants for NP related research, support and promote the Leadership Program and continue mentoring future NP leaders.