Congratulations to Dr. Debra Hain, PhD, APRN, and the Honorable Representative Jason Shoaf for receiving the 2023 AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence in Florida.

In recognition of her excellence in clinical practice, Debra Hain, PhD, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, FNKF, PMHNP, is being honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) as the 2023 recipient of the AANP State Award for Excellence in Florida. Each year, nurse practitioners (NPs) across the nation are nominated by their colleagues to receive this prestigious award. Hain, who is dual ANCC board certified as adult and gerontological nurse practitioner specializes in nephrology nursing, memory disorder clinic and hospice care. She is the DNP Program Director, Professor (tenured) and Co-graduate Coordinator AGNP Concentration, at the CHRISTINE E. LYNN COLLEGE OF NURSING, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

Dr Hain is an accomplished nurse practitioner who has provided care to some of the most vulnerable patients in the state of Florida. She has a long history of advocating for persons with diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease and has collaborated with communities to provide outreach and healthcare screenings for diabetes, mental health, and kidney disease. She is an accomplished scholar as well as mentor and as a tenured faculty has guided many through their initial nurse practitioner journey. Dr Hain will be honored with the other national awardees at the national conference to be held this year in New Orleans in June.

The AANP State Award for Excellence was established in 1993 and is given to an NP in each state who demonstrates excellence in clinical care. In 1993, the AANP Advocate State Award for excellence was added to highlight the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of NPs. Awards are distributed to the recipients throughout the year, with recipients honored during the annual AANP national conference. AANP is the largest professional association for NPs of all specialties, with more than 121,000 members and headquarters in Texas and Washington, D.C.

In recognition of his contribution as an advocate on behalf of nurse practitioners (NPs) and their patients the Honorable Representative Jason Shoaf is being honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) as the 2023 recipient of the AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence in Florida each year, advocates across the nation are nominated by AANP members to receive this prestigious award. Shoaf is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 7. 

The Honorable Jason Shoaf was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2019 and reelected subsequently. He has been a passionate supporter of NP practice, advocating for NPs to practice to the fullest extent of their education along with support for securing contracts with insurance payors for the autonomous NP. He is a regular advocate for NPs during the annual FNA Advocacy days and supported pay equity for state employees. He supported the passage of legislation allowing qualified Florida APRNs to provide primary care without physician supervision (HB607). As a user of NP services, he lauded this monumental piece of legislation to its rightful place in Florida statutes, expanding access to quality healthcare for low-income individuals in areas with a shortage of health professionals. Representative Shoaf will be honored with the other national awardees at the national conference to be held this year in New Orleans in June.

The AANP State Award for Excellence was established in 1993 and is given to an NP in each state who demonstrates excellence in clinical care. In 1993, the AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence was added to highlight the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of NPs. Awards are distributed to the recipients throughout the year, with recipients honored during the annual AANP national conference. AANP is the largest professional association for NPs of all specialties, with more than 121,000 members and headquarters in Texas and Washington, D.C.