Congratulations to the MA Recipients of the 2024 AANP State Awards for Excellence

This week the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) announced the recipients of their 2024 AANP State Awards for Excellence. Presented annually, these prestigious awards recognize outstanding achievements by nurse practitioners (NPs) who demonstrate excellence in clinical practice and NP advocates who have made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of NPs.

Congratulations to the Massachusetts recipients, Dr. Paula Brooks and Nurse Practitioner, Amy Yentsch. 

2024 State Advocate Recipient, Dr. Paula Brooks, is the Director of Advanced Practice Providers at Baystate Health where she has led transformative changes to advance Full Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners. As a result of her efforts, Baystate Health has removed unnecessary supervisory requirements for NPs, granted them medical staff privileges and legitimized their position and value as highly skilled health care provider.

Paula's impact has extended beyond Baystate Health, and in her role as State Legislative Policy Director for the MA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners, she has been a driving force behind advancing legislative initiatives that support Full Practice Authority for NPs across the state. With her unwavering commitment to advancing FPA and removing institutional barriers to NP Practice, Paula Brooks is a true advocate for nurse practitioners.       

2024 State Award for Excellence Recipient, Nurse Practitioner, Amy Yentsch, is a dually board certified adult/gerontological and Psych Mental Health NP dedicated to serving the needs of patients with behavioral health and addiction issues, providing holistic care to geriatric patients requiring complex psychopharmacology and medication assisted therapy for those struggling with SUD. Her compassionate care and approachable demeanor has helped countless patients.

Amy is committed to advancing the NP profession,  having precepted countless students and has been the Director at Large and President Elect of the Geriatric Advanced Practice Nurse Association (GAPNA) and an active member and regional education program planner for the MCNP.