Region Director Candidate
Campaign Message
I'm pleased to campaign for re-election as Board Director for Region 10 for 2026-2028! As one of only two regions with AANP with full practice authority, our region offers a unique perspective to the landscape for Nurse Practitioners. I will remain steadfast in the pursuit of transparency and equity in representation of our region with AANP as well as be a steward of our association members' interests and concerns. I am hopeful to progress my role as Board Director and commit to be an outspoken, inquisitive and engaged officer of the association.
Bio Sketch
Laurel Hallock Koppelman, FNP-C, DNP, FAANP, APRN is a champion for patients and nurse practitioners alike. She has spent the majority of her career in the primary care setting concentrating on populations of folks who are often the most underserved and vulnerable. She advocates for full practice authority on a daily basis in her own institution and state and recognizes the importance of partnering with Schools of Nursing to precept students every semester and act as a guest speaker as well. After 4 years as the State Liaison to AANP for the state of Oregon, Laurel has been the Region 10 director since June of 2024. In that time, she has emphasized the importance of involvement in national, state and local organizations and the power of membership for the advancement of our profession. She continues to speak locally and nationally on issues related to harm reduction, addiction and population health and believes this to be a role central to Nurse Practitioners as we are nurses first which gives us empathy, compassion, perspective and the intelligence to improve the human condition on an individualized basis.
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 biggest challenge for NPs remains the ability to practice to the top of their preparation, licensing and education in all states and the push for sustainable reimbursement rates for services provided. AANP should continue to lobby nationally and in state legislatures, organize its members to participate in grassroot efforts, and encourage the ever-growing number of NPs to tell their stories of how they impacted a patient's care. Together with the success we've had so far in over 27 states as well as payment parity in now two states, we can make NPs lead everywhere!
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.
When chair of our hospital's APRN council, I led the charge to update the instructor titles of all of our NPs with terminal degrees (DNPs and PHDs) to Assistant Professor. While this may seem to be a surface recognition, now new NPs are hired at the appropriate level which adds a level of respect, admiration as well as illustrates the commitment NPs have as faculty at an Academic Healthcare Institution. Starting in 2026, Assistant Professor NPs will be paid at a 5% higher rate than those without the title which helps to recruit extraordinary candidates from across the country.
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?
I am heavily involved in both state and local NP organizations as a member and active participant in education planning as well as advocacy. I was concerned in my first years as Region 10 director that this would impact my time allocation to these tasks as well as to the national organization, however I think it has made me more organized and strategic when it comes to scheduling. At this time, I remain committed to my state and local groups, but I have found that I am still able to remain highly active on the AANP board.
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?
With the engagement of our State Liaisons in our region, I plan to continue the goal of AANP's recognition as an organization. Together our team will be concentrating on increasing membership with a target on student membership increase. By introducing students early on in their learning and careers to the importance of engagement, we create the future leaders of tomorrow who will also strive to promote the NP role, create alignment amongst all states and improve educational competencies. The power of membership will help us to increase recognition of our profession as patient centered and high quality across the nation.