Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is pleased to announce recipients of the AANP 2018 National Leadership Awards. The two awards honor individuals who have contributed significantly to the national recognition and advancement of nurse practitioners. The awards will be presented during the opening general session at the AANP 2018 National Conference in Denver on June 27. The Towers Pinnacle Award was initiated in 2013 in honor of Jan Towers, Ph.D., NP-C, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, a long-time health policy expert. The award is presented annually to an individual who, through policy, practice, or education, has made outstanding contributions resulting in increased national recognition for NPs and increased opportunities for NPs to provide care to patients.

The 2018 Towers Pinnacle Award goes to Captain James L. Dickens, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP. Captain Dickens is a commissioned officer in the U. S. Public Health Service and in this role continually demonstrates a passion for the care of patients in a variety of settings. He has exhibited exemplary command of health care teams and the NP role, while globally contributing to improved health outcomes in maternal and infant mortality rates as well as policy development leading to equity for all racial and ethnic populations.

He served as the Officer in Charge of the 76-member Public Health Service Ebola Response Team, which provided health care relief in Monrovia, Liberia-West Africa, overseeing local Ebola response efforts. Captain Dickens has made a true difference in the lives of patient populations worldwide and alerted the global health community to the critical NP role.

Congratulations on being selected as a 2017 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni and recipient of the Excellence in Clinical Care Award. Captain James L. Dickens is a brother to Tyrone K-9 Dickens of Monroe, LA. Tyrone and Allison Dickens and family are proud of Captain James L. Dickens, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP.