As your AANP Virginia Representative, I am happy to announce the winners of the two prestigious 2021 AANP State Awards for Virginia, Dr. Shelly Smith, APRN-BC for Excellence in NP Practice and Dr. Carolyn Rutledge, FNP-BC for Excellence in Advocacy. These award winners have many outstanding accomplishments and were selected from an impressive pool of nominees.

Dr. Smith is being recognized for NP Practice Excellence as a leader of initiatives to improve health outcomes for citizens of Virginia including the Virginia COVID19 Response Task Force, as well as serving as an exceptional NP role model and mentor to students and colleagues. 

Dr. Rutledge is being recognized for NP Advocacy Excellence as a nationally recognized NP and DNP educator and policy advocate, championing and empowering NPs as leaders and the innovators and drivers in telehealth policy and care delivery. 

These award winners will be honored at the AANP National Conference in June 2021. 

Please join me in congratulating them, as these awards are well deserved!