Dr. Debbie Friedrich wins Champions of Health Award

On April 17 the Manatee Chamber of Commerce celebrated its second annual Champions of Health awards breakfast honoring finalists and winners in nine categories. Dr. Debbie Friedrich, immediate past legislative Vice President of FNPN, was selected as a finalist in the Nursing category.

Dr. Friedrich is tireless in her commitment to improving health care and health outcomes through practice, research, and education including interprofessional practice and education. She is a pioneer in improving preventive cardiology within the primary care practice setting in Manatee County.

Dr. Friedrich has been equally determined in her role to improve the cardiovascular health and understanding for professionals and patients. She has served a leadership role for the National Lipid Association Summer Clinical Lipid Update and a multiyear term board member for the Southeast Lipid Association. Recently, she spearheaded the National Million Hearts Initiative for the University of South Florida College of Nursing .

Dr. Friedrich also participated in the USF Sarasota-Manatee Blueprint for Health Professions – a federally funded study to improve the preparation of health professionals, and in particular nursing, to meet workforce demands in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Currently she is teaching nurse practitioners in the College of Nursing, Doctoring I and II in the College of Medicine at the University of South Florida and practices in Bradenton, Florida at Palma Sola Internal Medicine.

Her expertise, collaborative nature, and willingness to serve, regardless of compensation, have earned her tremendous respect from our colleagues in medicine, physical therapy, and pharmacy.