State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
I intend to be more visible and available to NP organizations and schools to assure our current and upcoming professionals are aware of the AANP organization's resources and support. I will attend conferences, contact legislators, and make presentations to assure the NP voice is heard and recognized both nationally and within the Commonwealth. I will be available to celebrate professional awards recognizing service that are given within our NP communities.
Bio Sketch
Eugene has been at Wilkes University for thirteen years and coordinates the PMHNP program. He has been a nurse for 43 years and an NP for 25, dually certified in FNP and PMH. He has both an undergraduate degree from Wilkes and a DNP. He has graduate degrees from Drexel (Psychiatry) and Misericordia (Family). His experience in Psychiatry and Family practice spans the VA, Drug and alcohol, Corrections, Inpatient and outpatient, telepsychiatry. He received the AANP Award for excellence in Pennsylvania in 2017. He was a member of the "Care for Pa" committee for seven years representing Northeastern Pennsylvania in a quest for autonomous NP practice in Pennsylvania. He has been a state representative for AANP in the past and is currently the Pennsylvania State AANP liaison. He has been active in meeting with NP schools in an attempt to increase AANP membership.
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?
Autonomy of practice continues to be a barrier to providing care in the United States. I live in a collaborative agreement state which requires teaming with not only one, but two physicians in order to provide the care I am already qualified to provide by my scope of practice. AANP should support legislative efforts at revising the law in Pennsylvania to allow all NPs to practice within their scope, joining 27 other states with autonomous practice. Full practice authority allows health care for all Americans without restrictions of unnecessary regulation.
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 been s State Liaison and previous state Representative for AANP. I am skilled in management practices and providing presentations on educational topics. I have been a member of Care for Pa in the past and attended legislative conferences. I have met with local state representatives in an effort to obtain autonomous NP practice in Pennsylvania.
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?
Due to my present position with AANP I am precluded from taking a leadership role in any local or state NP organization. I will still be able to influence the process through my AANP legislative branch. I will also attend the meet the representative portion of the legislative conference held annually by the AANP.
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?
The key is to be more visible and provide education to the interested parties while sharing on social media. The idea is to keep the focus on all Nurse Practitioners and their accomplishments in meeting the health needs of the people in the communities they serve. Getting out to attend established meetings of the different NP organizations in the state will also increase AANP interest.