Excellence Award Winners 2024

Among her routine clinical pursuits, Dr. Tepper led a Test to Treat pilot program with other leadership across the Veterans Affairs (VA) New England, VA Central Office Access to Care and Office of Health Transformation. This model was scaled across 11 VHA Clinical Contact Centers (CCC). The CCCs differ from traditional call centers by offering multiple services through more virtual modalities, such as video visits. As the Director of the VISN 1 CCC, Dr. Tepper’s guidance yielded benefits including earlier treatment of COVID-19, preventing cases from becoming severe and reducing burden on the healthcare system. Nurse practitioners served as the providers conducting virtual visits, demonstrating key roles in patient assessment, triage, treatment, and follow-up.

Kathryn is a highly engaged GAPNA member on multiple fronts in her local community and national groups. She is involved with the Alzheimer’s Association, Dementia Friends, Northampton Neighbors Board of Directors, and her local hospital volunteer force, to name only a few roles. She is a trainer throughout the city for other volunteers and medical professionals, with many of her efforts focused on helping individuals living with dementia to age in place, increase public awareness and knowledge, and impact city and state policies. Thanks to her efforts, Northampton was successfully designated a Dementia Friendly City in Massachusetts and she was asked to advise the Mayor on dementia-friendly downtown redevelopment. In addition to dementia education, Kathryn also ensures inclusion of people with disabilities as volunteers in the community.

With nearly four decades of nursing experience, Dr. Peraza-Smith’s commitment to gerontological nursing education is exemplary. As the Program Dean at West Coast University, he was instrumental in developing and leading nurse practitioner content and curriculum. An expert with the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence workgroup, he drafted gerontological nursing competencies across the 10 Essentials domains. Dr. Peraza-Smith plays integral roles in a multitude of educational endeavors: the GAPNA APRN Gerontological Specialist certification, Gerontology Nursing Credentialing Center (where he is the founding president), geriatric content in FNP programs, national leadership committees, and university didactic settings. He seeks innovation in all areas to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. In addition to his career pathways, he remains active with volunteering to improve medical access for unhoused individuals. His pursuits are an example of a well-rounded, dedicated, above and beyond nurse in the gerontological education field.

As a content expert for the University of Toledo College of graduate nursing programs, Dr. Scardina has developed didactic and clinical learning for both MSN and DNP programs. She ensures inclusion of geriatric content in the FNP track and is an established guest lecturer in pre-licensure nursing programs as well. Dr. Scardina also has specific expertise in utilizing pharmacogenomics as a tool for safe prescribing in older adults. She is a published author on this topic, having presented at two national conferences and now developing a continuing education series for clinicians and students. She is a new partner with WellBe Senior Medical to provide APRN clinical experiences for older adults in the home setting, with a goal to expand into the DNP leadership student experience on a process improvement level.

Deborah Wolff-Baker is a force in the field of healthcare for the homebound older adult. She engages with numerous stakeholders including AANP, AAPA, CNS group, GAPNA, among others, to impact regional and national health policies. Having spearheaded the Home Health and Hospice Coalition for over 3 years, she was pivotal in the inclusion of a provision in The Cares Act of 2020 which allows APRNs to certify/recertify home health – addressing a significant gap in care for seniors. She is a pioneer in value-based care in California including rural community care, hospice and palliative nursing. Deborah is a respected peer, mentor, and leader. She continues to inspire health affairs movements and disseminates her findings at multiple conferences each year. Her nomination this year included so many more examples of her wonderful leadership; colleagues and peers are quick to recognize her phenomenal efforts!

Dr. Carpenter’s peers describe her as “a remarkably productive nurse scientist and a star in gerontological advanced practice nursing research.” Dr. Carpenter is a leader, mentor, learner, teacher, and highly respected peer in her field. Her studies focus on improving access to high quality palliative care for seriously ill older adults, with recognition from the NIH, and numerous published articles. As the Principal or Co-Investigator of over 16 research grants, she has secured over $9.5 million in funding since 2011 from federal agencies and foundations to continue improving the lives of older adults. Her work has been cited by authors from over 92 countries and at least 159 different journals – not to mention blogs, podcasts, social media, news, national policy sources, conferences, and national or international meetings! Dr. Carpenter’s work impacts those around her, including nursing students (both graduate and undergraduate), pre-nursing scholars, faculty, peers/colleagues, and the GAPNA community as a whole.

The Great Lakes Chapter continues to excel in member engagement, community and legislative involvement, education and research. The Chapter continues to host membership nights of varying themes, student recruitment events, member recognition (such as awards and appreciation gifts), and an engagement survey this year which aided in filling leadership positions. Great Lakes participates in community events such as the Alzheimer’s Walk, camp nurse volunteering, food bank donations, monthly support groups for people living with an ostomy. Members participated in local legislative efforts supporting state and federal bills advocating for full practice authority, therapeutic shoes for patients, preserving access to home health, among others. Chapter members remain active in research activities including webinars, posters, journal clubs, and a project called Michigan Moving Forward National Coalition aimed at improving care in nursing homes. These efforts are only a small portion of what the chapter membership achieved over the past year. Congratulations to Great Lakes!