Region Director Candidate
Campaign Message
Serving as your Region 8 Director has been one of the greatest honors of my life. What makes this role meaningful isn t the title; it s the people, the incredible nurse practitioners of Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Together, we ve built stronger connections through state receptions, regional meetings, and mentorship. Together, we ve amplified NP voices in the media and on Capitol Hill and together, we stood strong against legislation that threatened our practice. I believe leadership is about rolling up our sleeves and working side by side. If re-elected, I will keep fighting for full practice authority, advocating for both rural and urban communities, and creating more opportunities for NPs to lead and thrive. Our greatest victories are won when we rise together, and I would be honored to keep serving you. Let s dream boldly, act fearlessly, and achieve greatness together! Onward and upward Dr. J
Bio Sketch
Dr. Jason Gleason is a board-certified nurse practitioner and fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. He is a distinguished national speaker, author, documentary producer, host of the Thrive Life Nation podcast, and also serves as senior faculty with Fitzgerald Health Education Associates by Colibri. He is a 20-year Veteran and provides care for our National Heroes in primary care at the Veterans Administration. Dr. Gleason has actively served on numerous national councils and boards, including the AANP Board of Directors, the National VA APRN Council, the VA/Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline Stroke Workgroup, and advisory boards for Purdue University and Carelinx by Sharecare, founded by WebMD s Jeff Arnold in partnership with Oprah, Remark, Sony Pictures Television, and Discovery Channel. On the AANP board, he serves on the Regional Membership Meeting Workgroup and as Board Liaison to the Health Equity Committee. Dr. Gleason has been recognized from the floor of the U.S. Senate for his work as an NP. He is honored to be elected as Region 8 Director for AANP, representing the great states of Montana, North Dakota, South Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Above all, he cherishes his role as husband and father of three remarkable sons.
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?
I believe that the greatest challenge NPs will face over the next decade is sustaining access to equitable, person-centered care in the midst of growing workforce shortages, widening rural-urban disparities, and continued legislative threats to practice authority. AANP is uniquely positioned to meet this challenge, and will by fully living out its mission empowering all NPs to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality health care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. By promoting NP leadership, amplifying our collective voice, and fostering innovation, AANP will ensure every community receives the high-quality care it deserves.
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.
I bring proven leadership from 20 years of military service, VA practice, and AANP board experience. Skilled in coalition-building, advocacy, and media engagement, I translate vision into measurable results. I led testimony opposing Montana s HB 526 (APRN Compact), protecting NP practice by securing its defeat. I streamlined regional meetings to make them more dynamic and effective while serving on the Region Membership Meeting Workgroup. As Board Liaison for the Health Equity Committee, I shaped vision and set objectives to advance patient care. By harnessing the power of the media, I ve amplified NP voices and elevated emerging leaders across Region 8.
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?
The greatest challenge is balancing the extensive responsibilities of AANP leadership with my commitments as a full-time VA nurse practitioner, national speaker and podcaster. I manage this by applying the discipline and time-management skills gained from 20 years of military service and years of academic and professional leadership. I prioritize tasks strategically, leverage technology to stay connected across our geographically diverse region, and delegate effectively by empowering strong state liaisons and emerging leaders. These strategies ensure I remain fully engaged, responsive, and successful in advancing AANP s mission and supporting nurse practitioners across Region 8.
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?
If re-elected, I will continue advancing AANP s mission by elevating the voices of NPs across Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. These states represent both rural and urban communities, with unique challenges that call for strong advocacy, innovative education, and focused leadership. I will build on my work hosting state receptions, uniting nurse practitioners, and mentoring emerging leaders to strengthen access and outcomes. By harnessing media and fostering collaboration, I will ensure Region 8 drives AANP s strategic plan forward while keeping patient-centered care at the core.