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Chapter President’s Message
Dear Massachusetts NAPNAP Members,
I hope this message finds you well, resilient, and hopeful. With the past year having its many challenges, I hope we can all take a pause and reflect a little. Take a piece of paper and just start writing the pros and cons, and you may be surprised how eye-opening and reassuring such a basic exercise can be. I know everything is relative, but it is a matter of our perspective on things and life, and how we view what happens or doesn’t happen to us. Once you accept that it is a fluid continuum, you can find bigger meaning and purpose.
I am very fortunate to continue working with such an inspiring and selfless group of PNP colleagues on the MassNAPNAP Board and want to recognize all of them for doing an incredible job - Julianne Nemes Walsh, DNP, RN, PNP-BC (outgoing Immediate Past President – THANK YOU, JULIANNE!), Laura Santangelo White PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC (outgoing Secretary), Susan Herel MSN, RN, CPNP-PC (Treasurer), Amy Delaney PhD(c), MSN, RN, CPNP-AC/PC and Carolyn Riker MSN, RN, PNP (Legislative Co-Chairs), Alexa Dias DNP, RN, CPNP (Membership Chair) and Emily Vilk, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC/PC (Membership), Heather Grossklaus MS, RN, CPNP (Program Chair) and Kimberly Healey, MSN, RN, CPNP (Program), Courtney Catalano, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC and Katelyn E. Leake, MSN, RN, CPNP (Communications/PR Co-Chairs) – THANK YOU ALL!
Now, I would like to offer a warm welcome to our newly elected and volunteer board members – Laura Santangelo White PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC (President-Elect), Elise Buckley DNP, RN, CPNP-AC/PC (Secretary), Rita Drummond Olans, DNP, RN, CPNP-PC, APRN-BC, FNAP (Scholarship, Research, and Mentorship Committee Chair), and David Geyer, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC (Communications/PR Committee Member) – congratulations again! I am very much looking forward to working with all of you and seeing you shine in your roles!
At the beginning of the year, we reached a crucial point of the NP Full Practice Authority Bill being passed in Massachusetts with advocacy efforts continuing to translate it into regulatory language and further operationalize it. We also provided and continue to provide written and oral testimony in support of the Community Immunity Act. Our Legislative Committee has been hard at work on many more initiatives and advocating on behalf of our chapter, and especially our patients and their families. I strongly encourage you to follow the Legislative Updates sent periodically by our Legislative Co-Chairs and click on the links, share your voice (let us know!), and act! You can also find all of the legislative updates on our website.
We embraced social justice, equity, and equality as crucial themes of our advocacy efforts and educational offerings, but it is important to point out that it is not a mere statement and a passing focus …. social justice, equity, and equality have always been tenets our Chapter’s mission and philosophy and will continue to be.
Recently, our chapter held a special commemorative and educational event in memory of Dr. Ann Coleman Stadtler. During the evening, Dr. Jayne Singer presented an inspiring talk on child development and NAPNAP’s president, Dr. Jessica Peck presented the official NAPNAP Proclamation in Ann’s honor. Last but not least, we announced the recipient of our chapter’s inaugural Ann Stadtler Excellence in Practice Award, an award supported by a generous donation by Ann Stadtler’s family. The 2021 Award was presented to Dr. Linda Malone, DNP, RN, CPNP. Linda, you are so deserving of such an honor! All others, please, stay tuned for the nomination call for the 2022 Award and for more honors/scholarships as our recently established Scholarship, Research, and Mentorship Committee embarks on its inaugural year journey!
Be on the lookout for updates and save the date(s) regarding our educational offerings and networking events planned for the upcoming fiscal year. Our Fall Symposium is planned in-person (yes!) and will focus on the Care of the Medically Complex Child in the Community and practitioners in all settings will benefit from attending. The educational event will, of course, be accompanied by a much-needed professional social gathering! Still, as our Board’s decisions have been more than ever shaped by developments at all levels, we are being cognizant of the need for flexibility but also the potential for virtual fatigue. Special kudos to our Program and Communication/PR Chairs and Committee Members for their recruitment efforts, creativity, and efficiency.
Before this message comes to a close, I want to mention a couple of more updates with you. As many of you already noticed (thanks to our Communications/PR Co-Chairs!), we transitioned some of our operations to a new group management platform, Springly. We will utilize the platform for member notifications, event updates, and payments with the possibility to expand to the site’s full functionality potential in the upcoming year. We will continue to use our Chapter Gmail address for the time being and will let you know of any changes/transitions. In addition, thank you to all who completed the Member Survey this Spring. We will review all the responses and take your suggestions to heart as we work to fulfill the Chapter’s mission to the fullest, advocate on behalf of our patients, families, and our profession, and plan future events and engagements.
Are you wondering how to get more involved, have an idea for an event, or want to share some feedback with us? Please, do get in touch. We are very thankful to you, our members, for your continued support of the MassNAPNAP Chapter.
Wishing you relaxing and fun summer, and I am looking forward to seeing you during one of our upcoming events,
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