LHSON Faculty Member, Dr. Jessica Peck Receives Loretta C. Ford Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award from National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

The Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing (LHSON) congratulates Dr. Jessica Peck, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CNL, FAANP, FAAN, Clinical Professor of Nursing at the LHSON, on receiving the Loretta C. Ford Distinguished NP Award from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).

The Loretta C. Ford Distinguished Nurse Practitioner Award recognizes a NAPNAP member for outstanding contributions to expansion or improvement of pediatric health care, and/or advancement of the profession of pediatric-focused APRNs at the state, national, or international level; awarded annually.

Dr. Peck received the award during the NAPNAP 44th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care hosted March 15-18 in Orlando, Fla. In addition to delivering evidence-based continuing education developed and presented by leaders in their fields, NAPNAP celebrated its 50th anniversary and place in history as the first national nurse practitioner society.

In addition to the anniversary celebrations and the vast educational and professional development opportunities offered at the national conference, NAPNAP presented its annual awards, including the Loretta C. Ford and Henry K. Silver awards. This year, NAPNAP unveiled three new awards: the Early Advanced Practice Career Award, Diversity Champion Award and NAPNAP Leader Award. NAPNAP also honored its Emerging Leaders, those who will help the association succeed in the next 50 years. In fact, Dr. Quanica Darden, a part-time Baylor LHSON faculty member and one of our preceptors, received the Emerging Leader Award.

“Celebrating PNP Week and NAPNAP’s 50th anniversary together is a wonderful opportunity to recognize our pediatric experts and the amazing contributions they have made in clinical practice, academia, research, publication and advocacy,” said NAPNAP Executive Director James H. Wendorf. “With the theme 50Forward, we are also focused on the leaders and innovations that will shape the next half century as pediatric health care continues to evolve.”

In addition, National Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week coincided with NAPNAP’s national conference. This week-long celebration honors the thousands of pediatric nurse practitioners who work on the front lines of diagnosing, prescribing and treating children in primary, acute and specialty settings during millions of patient interactions each year.