News Releases

University of Maryland School of Nursing's Resnick Named Recipient of AANP's Loretta C. Ford Award

May 2, 2018

Annual award is given to nurse practitioner for participation in health care policy development.

Baltimore, Md. – Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named the recipient of the 2018 Loretta C. Ford Award for Advancement of the Nurse Practitioner Role in Health Care. She will be honored at the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Induction Ceremony on June 28 during the organization’s national conference in Denver.

‌The Loretta C. Ford Award is presented annually to a nurse practitioner who demonstrates participation in health care policy development internationally, nationally, or locally. Additionally, the award winner has shown a sustained and specific contribution to clarification of the role and scope of practice of nurse practitioners and/or creative and effective action to turn a challenge to the nurse practitioner role into an effective opportunity to advance practice and improve patient outcomes.

“We congratulate Dr. Resnick on her receipt of this prestigious award,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her innovative and rigorously conducted research has significantly enhanced our understanding of how to optimize function in older adults. Dr. Resnick is an outstanding example of leadership in nursing research and practice, and it is wonderful to see her recognized by AANP for her impact on the care of countless individuals and on policy.”

AANP honors Resnick, a gerontological nurse practitioner, nurse researcher/scientist, and educator, for influencing the role and scope of practice of gerontological nurse practitioners and other nurse practitioners through her leadership at local, national, and international levels. As a scientist, Resnick has focused her research on optimizing function and physical activity among older adults and facilitating healthy behaviors in this population across care settings. Her work has global significance to stakeholders across disciplines. Additionally, Resnick has been instrumental in helping nurse practitioners gain the ability to bill Medicare for services provided across all settings.

“It is an honor to receive this award, and I am particularly touched to have been nominated by a group of my colleagues,” Resnick said. “This award reflects on my work as a nurse practitioner and my work in interdisciplinary care and geriatrics. The work I’ve been involved with is particularly important as it has laid the foundation for the role of the advanced practice nurse among other members of the health care team.”

AANP is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 248,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state, and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve nurse practitioner patients and other health care consumers.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.