UT Houston Nursing Faculty Member Honored as One of Country’s Leading Practitioners

Houston—(July 2008)—Susan D. Ruppert, Ph.D., RN, associate professor of nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing, has been inducted as a 2008 fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

The induction ceremony was held last week in Washington, D.C.

The fellowship program was created in 2000 to recognize nursing leaders who have made exemplary contributions to health care through nurse practitioner clinical practice, research, education or policy. The fellowship program also provides a forum where such efforts can be extended and enhanced.

One of the main priorities of the academy is to develop leadership and mentorship programs for nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner students. A limited number of fellows are selected each year for this highly coveted distinction. Patricia Starck, D.S.N., dean of the UT School of Nursing, said Ruppert has continuously shined as a leader in the field of nursing.

“We are very proud that Dr. Ruppert has been recognized for her excellence as a clinician and faculty,” Starck said. “It is important that the teachers of the future generation be skilled clinicians and pass this on to their students.”

Individuals considered for selection as a fellow must show evidence of outstanding contributions and leadership in the areas of clinical practice, research, education and/or health policy, and potential for contributing to the mission of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and to its initiatives.

Ruppert has held numerous leadership positions within professional organizations. She is a member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center Content Expert Panel for the Adult Nurse Practitioner certification examination and the CORE NP Role Delineation Study Panel. In addition, she is involved in numerous nurse practitioner and critical care organizations at local, state and national levels.

Ruppert received her Ph.D. from Texas Woman’s University and completed a post-graduate nurse practitioner program at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and as an Adult Nurse Practitioner by the AANP.

In addition, she is also recognized as a clinical nurse specialist in medical-surgical nursing. Ruppert is also a fellow in the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

The UT School of Nursing has three other AANP fellows. Thomas Mackey, Ph.D., Elda Ramirez, Ph.D., and Mary Pat Rapp, Ph.D., have previously been honored. Mackey and Ramirez were Ruppert’s sponsors.

“I am very proud to have sponsored Dr. Ruppert as a fellow in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners,” Mackey said. “Her expertise and dedication as a nurse practitioner over the years has prepared her for some of the activities expected of her as a fellow: mentorship to other nurse practitioners and leadership on issues and projects important to the profession.”