By Laura Gasque
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Assistant Professor Jeremy Jordan, PhD, CRNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN, CNE (MSN 2014, PhD 2021), and Adjunct Instructor Tomika Harris, DNP, CRNP, CPNP-PC, have received the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Presidential Commendation. NAPNAP established the honor in 2022 to recognize members who have made significant contributions to the organization.
Harris previously served as chair of the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Special Interest Group and president of the Houston Chapter from 2020 to 2021.
"I am honored to be among the first to receive the NAPNAP Presidential Commendation, Harris said. “It is a privilege to serve in a leadership role in this amazing organization and to be recognized in this way means so much."
Jordan is co-chair of the Acute Care Special Interest Group (AC SIG) and serves on the NAPNAP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
“The NAPNAP DEI Committee has made great strides in ensuring our organization is diverse, inclusive and representative of our unique membership. We look forward to continuing to guide NAPNAP in its goal to ensure that children and their families receive high-quality care from expert pediatric focused APRNs who embody the important role of DEI and social justice in health care,” Jordan said. “As co-chair of the AC SIG, I am humbled every day by the expert clinical care, research, quality improvement and education that our AC SIG members provide.”
Jordan and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Felesia Bowen, PhD, DNP, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAAN, also were asked to serve on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Pediatric Health Care. The JPHC is the official journal of NAPNAP.
“JPHC is committed to ensuring its editorial policy represents the current landscape of health care,” Jordan said. “Through our review and evaluation of the editorial policies, identifying major topics, and identifying diverse authors, we are committed to helping the JPHC fulfill its mission and meet the needs of the readership.”
“It was quite an honor to be asked to serve in that capacity because that is the premiere journal for children,” Bowen said. “With Jeremy on there also, that just speaks to the level of talent and influence that UAB School of Nursing faculty have. We’re leading the way in evidence-based nursing, and that’s really significant.”
Additionally, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Education-MSN Tedra Smith, DNP, CRNP, CPNP-PC, CNE (MSN 2004, DNP 2011), has been elected to the NAPNAP Nominations Committee and is serving as chair of the School-based Health Care Special Interest Group (SBHC SIG). The SBHC SIG develops position statements, clinical practice resources and educational materials related to school-based health care.
“The SBHC SIG is committed to promoting healthy behaviors for children within primary, middle and secondary schools,” Smith said. “It is an honor to lead and collaborate with SIG members to develop foundational materials that equip schools to thread health education throughout their curriculum for all grades. Leading this SIG will also further enhance the work that I am doing with i3 Academy through the Healthy Tomorrows HRSA grant, advocating for health education in the curriculum as a priority as well as creating access to care for children while in school.”