Two Former CANP Presidents Inducted into Prestigious National Fellowship
Theresa Brown and Surani Hayre-Kwan, both former CANP presidents, are among the newest inductees into the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP).
Established in 2000 by what was then known as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the FAANP recognizes nurse practitioner leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through NP clinical practice, research, education or policy, and provides a forum to extend and enhance such efforts.
“The list of Fellows reads like an all-star roster, and it’s awe-inspiring to be among them,” said Kwan, who served as CANP president from 2010 to 2012. “Just to be considered was an honor in itself.”
The rigorous application process requires candidates to select areas of primary and secondary focus from among the categories of Education, Clinical Practice, Health Policy and Research. Both Kwan and Brown designated Health Policy as their primary focus, and both cited their work with CANP has having provided the foundation of that experience.
“I’ve served at the chapter and state levels with CANP since 2001, and all of that experience was tremendously valuable,” said Brown, who was CANP president from 2006 to 2008. Her application noted her work on CANP’s Unification and Governance Improvement Project, a two-year, five-phase endeavor that “unified, modernized, and provided CANP with the structure and tools to elevate the organization’s involvement in professional practice, law and policy.”
Part of that project resulted in the reduction of the Board of Directors from 32 members to 10, and the concurrent creation of the House of Delegates as the legislative and policymaking body of the Association. As CANP president, Brown presided over the first-ever House of Delegates meeting in March of 2007, a year in which CANP was also instrumental in the support of Assembly Bill 1436, authored by then-Assemblymember Ed Hernandez, which was California’s first legislative proposal regarding NP scope of practice.
Kwan cited her 15 years in championing legislation in support of nurse practitioners, during which time she helped draft language for 17 bills that that fundamentally changed the way NPs are allowed to practice in the state, from prescribing to ordering blood. She also emphasized her leading role in the eventual passage and signing of legislation that permitted NPs to supervise Medical Assistants (MAs), noting her part in negotiations that led to the California Medical Association becoming a key supporter of the proposal.
“Being involved in CANP was the Number One reason I was able to lift myself up to see what is going on with NPs across the country,” said Kwan, “and that helped us to evaluate and improve our own approach to advancing the profession.”
Both Brown and Kwan likewise listed Clinical Practice as their secondary focus. A specialist in Cardiology, Brown currently works with the Interventional Cardiology Medical Group in West Hills (Los Angeles County), and is also the Program Coordinator in Adult/Gerontology Acute Care at the UCLA School of Nursing. Kwan is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who serves as the Director of Professional Practice and Nursing Excellence for Sutter Health. In addition, she is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through Samuel Merritt University.
With the honor of induction comes both responsibilities and opportunities – as Brown noted “(FAANP) is not just a Hall of Fame.” The program describes its priority initiatives as “the creation and development of leadership and mentorship programs to foster the advancement of nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner students.”
“I think this will be a great opportunity to meet a lot of additional colleagues,” said Brown. “I’ve been involved in health policy for many years, and at some point you want to attract younger participants. This will be an opportunity to mentor incoming NPs and in the process support the future of the profession.”
Both new honorees acknowledged assistance in the application process from other former CANP presidents who have been previous FAANP inductees, Brown working with Donna Emanuele (CANP president from 2014 to 2016, FAANP inductee in 2013) and Karen Ketner (CANP president from 2009 to 2010, FAANP inductee in 2016), while Kwan got valuable assistance from Beth Haney (CANP president from 2012 to 2014, FAANP inductee in 2015), and Jill Olmstead (CANP president 2008-2009, FAANP inductee in 2015).
Other current CANP members among the FAANP luminaries are Susanne Phillips (inducted in 2017), Jennifer Ballard-Hernandez (inducted in 2016), Judith Berg (inducted in 2003), Barbara Dehn (inducted in 2013), Rodney Hicks (inducted in 2008), Karen Hoyt (inducted in 2008), Melanie Logue (inducted in 2014), and Susan Tiso (inducted in 2017).