State Liaison Candidate
Campaign Message
I am running for AANP State Liaison because I believe Nurse Practitioners are a driving force for change in health care. With over 16 years of experience in neurology, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and women s health serving in diverse settings including Indian Health Services/reservations, prisons, rural clinics, community clinics, and the military I have dedicated my career to advancing health equity, advocacy, and policy. Currently pursuing my DNP/MPH at Johns Hopkins, I am committed to bridging clinical excellence with public health leadership to improve outcomes for underserved communities. As your State Liaison, I will champion policies that protect and expand NP practice, amplify our collective voice, and foster collaboration across our profession. Together, we can ensure every NP is supported, every community is served, and every patient receives equitable, high-quality care. I ask for your vote so we can lead this change together.
Bio Sketch
Selam T. Gebrezghi, MSN, FNP-C, DNP(c), MPH(c), is an accomplished Nurse Practitioner with over 16 years of experience in neurology, psychiatry, primary care, and emergency medicine. She has served in diverse settings, including rural clinics, prisons, underserved communities, and the military. Currently, she holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and serves as Director of Operations. Her leadership experience includes roles such as Director of Nursing for Indian Health Services, Lead NP in the Emergency Department, and Professor at Sonoma State University. She is also a pre-doctoral NIH fellow at Mount Sinai and a Teaching Assistant at Johns Hopkins University. Selam is pursuing a dual degree in Doctor of Nursing Practice (Executive Leadership track) and Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins, with an emphasis on policy, advocacy, and trauma-informed care. She holds multiple leadership certifications, including Lean Six Sigma and AANP s Jan Towers Leadership program. Her professional services include chairing the Emergency Response and International Involvement committees, volunteering for the Medical Service Corp in Sonoma County, where she was deployed twice, and building global health initiatives. She is committed to advancing NP practice, equity, and policy impact across California.
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 most pressing challenge for California NPs is implementing full practice authority amidst ongoing regulatory and payer barriers, which limit access to care in underserved areas (California Board of Registered Nursing, 2023). AANP should intensify state-level advocacy, expand public education on NP roles, and support legislative alignment with AB 890 to ensure equitable reimbursement and autonomous practice.
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.
With 16 years of NP experience across neurology, psychiatry, primary care, emergency medicine, and service in rural, military, and underserved communities, I bring advocacy, coalition building, and policy expertise strengthened by my DNP/MPH training. As State Liaison, I will champion legislative advocacy to protect and expand NP practice authority and reimbursement in California ensuring these policy wins advance health equity, expand access, and position NPs as leaders in driving community-centered healthcare.
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 challenge with any role could be balancing professional and personal responsibilities, as life demands are inevitable. However, I have consistently demonstrated strong time-management skills, successfully integrating clinical practice, academic commitments, and leadership roles. I plan to manage this by applying structured scheduling, prioritizing high-impact tasks, and leveraging virtual platforms to maintain consistent communication with stakeholders. This disciplined approach will ensure I remain fully engaged, responsive, and effective in advancing NP priorities across California.
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 advance AANP s mission by aligning advocacy, education, and research with the needs of California NPs and the diverse communities we serve. I will champion policy initiatives that expand practice authority and reimbursement, ensuring NPs can deliver equitable, person-centered care. I will foster academic partnerships to promote AANP resources to students and future leaders, while amplifying member engagement through state-level collaboration. Grounded in trauma-informed, equity-focused leadership, I will strengthen AANP s visibility, expand membership, and ensure NPs are recognized as essential voices in shaping health policy and advancing accessible, high-quality care.