State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
I am Carolyn Dickens, PhD, MBA, NP, FAANP, FAAN, running for Illinois State Liaison, and I ask for your VOTE to strengthen the voice of nurse practitioners. As an accountable, innovative, and collaborative leader, I am committed to achieving pay parity, promoting the NP profession, and expanding opportunities for NP-led practices. My leadership experience includes collaborating with government agencies and NP practices to advance policies that enhance reimbursement, eliminate barriers, and secure recognition for the vital care NPs provide. I am passionate about supporting NP education programs and building academic practice partnerships that prepare future NPs to thrive in value-based care models. If elected, I will champion initiatives that empower NPs to practice to the full scope of our license, lead in health system innovation, and expand access to person-centered, equitable, high-quality care. Together, we can elevate NP visibility, influence, and impact. Accountable. Innovative. Collaborative
Bio Sketch
Carolyn Dickens, PhD, MBA, NP, FAANP, FAAN is Associate Dean for Faculty Practice and Partnerships and Clinical Associate Professor. She has more than two decades of experience as an acute care nurse practitioner in cardiology and has held numerous leadership roles advancing nursing practice, education, and health equity. Dr. Dickens is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the Heart Failure Society of America. She has served in executive board and committee leadership roles for health centers and professional organizations and has been actively engaged in advocacy at the state and national levels. Her funded research and federal grants focus on mobile health units, workforce development, and health literacy, emphasizing innovative approaches to care delivery. Recognized as a Pinnacle Nurse Leader and Preceptor of the Year, Dr. Dickens is dedicated to promoting NP-led practice, advancing NP education programs, and securing parity in pay and practice. She is committed to strengthening the NP workforce through advocacy, innovation, and collaborative leadership.
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 facing NPs is restrictive scope-of-practice laws, low Medicaid reimbursement, and federal funding cuts to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), where NPs make up nearly 40% of the workforce. These barriers limit access to care, discourage NPs from serving Medicaid patients, and threaten critical safety-net services. As provider shortages grow, patients present with increasing complexity, overwhelming the healthcare system and accelerating NP burnout. The AANP must advocate for full practice authority, equitable reimbursement, and sustained funding for FQHCs to ensure NPs can deliver high-quality, accessible care to vulnerable populations.
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 have a unique skill for leading teams through complex situations. I can foster a shared vision among diverse groups to promote a position that might be considered controversial. In 2018, Full Practice Authority became an option in Illinois. As a member of the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nursing advocacy committee, I was aware of its potential impact. At my hospital, I collaborated with diverse opposing leaders to incorporate FPA into the medical staff bylaws by developing a shared vision among physicians, nursing academics, and hospital administration. We were the first AMC in Illinois to recognize FPA.
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?
One major challenge is balancing the multiple responsibilities I hold alongside the demands of this role. At this stage of my career, my commitments are more manageable, and my role as Associate Dean has prepared me to embrace leadership and service opportunities such as this, with full support from my institution. I rely on strong organizational skills, prioritization, and time management, aided by an assistant who manages my calendar and two direct reports to whom I delegate appropriately. With the encouragement of my husband and adult children, I remain aligned with priorities and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact.
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?
I plan to advance AANP s mission by leveraging my experience as Associate Dean, where I lead an AACN-accredited office providing professional development for NPs statewide. As an administrator responsible for the ROI of 30 nurse practitioners, I understand the financial and operational challenges of NP practice. I will advocate for eliminating payment disparities using my expertise in billing, reimbursement, and value-based care. My leadership as Vice Chair of the Board at Illinois s second-largest FQHC and in launching an NP-run mobile health unit positions me to strengthen AANP s visibility in practice, advocacy, and leadership.