2022 America’s Top Nurse Practitioners Recognized for Excellence in Patient Care and Peer Support

To celebrate National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week, POCN’s annual award program commemorates the valuable and expanding role NPs play in providing healthcare in their own communities and underserved populations across the U.S. 

BOONTON, N.J. – November 14, 2022 – In honor of National Nurse Practitioner Week (November 13-19), POCN, the largest nurse practitioner (NP) and physician associate (PA) network in the U.S., announces the winners of its 2022 America’s Top NP Awards, the annual awards program that recognizes excellence within the NP profession. Winners were nominated by their peers for their significant contributions to improving healthcare and supporting other healthcare professionals.

Currently, 27 U.S. states have given NPs full practice authority upon licensure. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, these states have better overall health compared to those that restrict access, highlighting the critical role NPs have in improving health outcomes across specialties. U.S. News & World Report ranks nurse practitioners as the top health care job and number two overall best job in 2022. Despite these recent accolades, there is room for improvement in recognizing the tremendous impact NPs have on patient care. Today, NPs see more than 250 million patients per year and account for 17 percent of all prescriptions written annually. NPs who perform the exact same services as physicians often do not experience the same level of compensation or acknowledgement for their contributions.

The 2022 America’s Top NP winners went above and beyond in areas, including:

  • peer support and leadership within the NP community
  • making a difference for patients and colleagues and advancing patient care
  • dedication to underserved communities

Alongside leaders within the NP community, POCN celebrates this year’s recipients:

  • Margaret Bobonich, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP, FAANP (dermatology) – Silver Lake, OH
  • Tina Copple, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES (endocrinology) – San Antonio, TX
  • Sarah Donahue, MSN, MPH, AOCNP (oncology) – San Francisco, CA
  • Beth Faiman, PhD, MSN, APN-BC, AOCN, BMTCN, FAAN, FAPO (hematology, oncology) – Cleveland, OH
  • Sherrie Gould, MSN, NP-C (neurology) – San Diego, CA
  • Simi J. Joseph, DNP, FPA-APRN, ANP, NP-C, NEA-BC (gastroenterology) – Morton Grove, IL
  • Tavell L. Kindall, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AACRN, AAHIVS, FAANP (HIV) – Waggaman, LA
  • Elizabeth Kirchner, CNP, DNP (rheumatology) – Shaker Heights, OH
  • Vernon M. Langford, DNP, APRN, FNP-C (primary care) – Longwood, FL
  • Theresa Mallick-Searle, MS, PMGT-BC, ANP-BC (pain management) – San Carlos, CA
  • Eileen Meyer, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, LSSGB (cardiology) – Birmingham, AL
  • Mary Ann Nihart, MA, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC (psychiatry) – Pacifica, CA
  • Katherine M. O’Boyle, MSN, RN, CBN, CSOWM, APRN-CNP (obesity) – Concord Township, OH
  • Kavita Patel, BSN, MSN, NP-C, FNP (orthopedics) – Dallas, TX
  • Julia Ponder, DNP, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC (emergency medicine) – Little Rock, AR
  • Corinne Young, FNP-C, FCCP (respiratory/pulmonology) – Colorado Springs, CO

“We have profound respect for the hard work and dedication NPs have to their patients and profession,” says Richard Zwickel, founder and CEO of POCN. “This year’s award winners are leading the charge in providing access to critical care across the U.S., making a tremendous difference for their communities, underserved populations, colleagues and patients. They deserve our continued support and recognition. From all of us at POCN, congratulations!”

Winners of the 2022 America’s Top NP Awards will receive:

  • a one-year paid membership to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
  • recognition and press exposure in healthcare media, including on POCN social media and web properties (such as videos on POCN+ and com)
  • Ability to serve as an advisor to POCN, helping to advance educational programs in support of the NP and PA community

POCN’s mission is to bring NPs and PAs together to network, share ideas, and create a strong foundation of providers. To learn more about POCN and its programs, visit http://www.pocn.com.

About POCN

POCN, the largest network of PAs and NPs, is a trusted source for over 400,000 PAs/NPs who have opted-in to be informed about opportunities to network with peers, support and shape PA/NP education, learn the latest healthcare news, find earning opportunities including their next jobs, and access resources to improve patient outcomes. Traditionally, the physician community has received the majority of funding and resourcing, resulting in an underappreciation of the PA/NP community. POCN recognizes the need to advocate, support, and educate PAs and NPs. The organization does this through data and support services. For more information, visit www.pocn.com.

###