State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
As a dedicated nurse practitioner with a passion for advancing quality and equitable health care, I am committed to representing our profession with integrity, vision, and advocacy. My career has been built on collaboration, innovation, and championing evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes. If elected, I will work to strengthen the voice of nurse practitioners within the state of Missouri, support policies that protect our practice rights, and promote professional development opportunities for every NP. I believe in fostering diversity, inclusion, and leadership growth within our communities, ensuring that our profession continues to lead in shaping the future of health care. Together, we can empower NP's to practice to the full extent of our training and expertise, making a lasting impact on the patients and communities we serve.
Bio Sketch
Heidi Hunsel is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in surgical oncology, currently serving in the Solid Tumor division at Washington University St. Louis. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri St. Louis in 2005 and a Master of Science in Nursing from Maryville University in 2009. Over the course of her career, Heidi has held multiple leadership roles, including becoming the first Nurse Practitioner hired at a large local urgent care center, where she later managed a team of up to 40 NP's. She is an accomplished speaker at both local and national NP conferences, she has been a long term board member of a local NP group and served as President of this board for several years, and currently serves as the lead NP in her department. Her clinical expertise spans surgical oncology, breast cancer treatment and survivorship, and extensive prior experience in emergency medicine and urgent care. Passionate about advancing patient care and mentoring future healthcare leaders, Heidi is actively involved in several breast cancer initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, exploring new foods, and spending time with her husband and three children.
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?
One of the biggest challenges for NPs in the next decade will be meeting rising patient demand while navigating restrictive scope-of-practice laws. These regulations limit NPs ability to provide timely, full-spectrum care especially critical amid physician shortages and growing chronic disease rates. The AANP should prioritize nationwide advocacy for Full Practice Authority, expand policy and leadership training for NP's, and promote public awareness of NP effectiveness. By removing barriers and supporting the workforce, NP's can deliver high-quality, accessible care to the populations that need it most.
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 to AANP leadership grounded in clinical excellence, advocacy, and collaborative innovation. I led a survivorship initiative for post-breast cancer patients focused on improving long-term outcomes and quality of life. Partnering with oncology, I assisted in developing an NP-coordinated program that integrated breast imaging, lymphedema screening, mental health support, and lifestyle counseling into routine follow-up care. Within one year, adherence to survivorship visits increased, patients reported their quality-of-life improved, and early detection of post-treatment complications doubled. This initiative reflects my ability to design evidence-based care models and achieve measurable results.
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?
A major challenge could be adapting quickly to new systems or procedures unique to AANP. I plan to manage this by proactively seeking training, asking clarifying questions, and dedicating extra time to practice and research. This approach will help me integrate efficiently and perform effectively.
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 elected, I will assist in championing policies that expand NP scope of practice within the state of Missouri which will enhance access to underserved communities and promote health equity. I will continue to support continuing education and research initiatives that advance evidence-based care. I will foster leadership opportunities for NP's in diverse settings. Through advocacy at local and state levels, I will assist to remove barriers to practice, strengthen interprofessional collaboration, and ensure patient-centered, high-quality care remains at the forefront of our profession. My focus will be on advancing AANP s mission with integrity, inclusivity, and measurable impact.