April 10, 2015

Drs. Goodman and Hawkins-Walsh
Professors Petra Goodman and Elizabeth Hawkins-Walsh

Petra Goodman, associate professor of nursing and assistant dean for research and faculty development, and Elizabeth Hawkins-Walsh, clinical associate professor of nursing and assistant dean for master's programs and outreach, have been selected as Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP).

Of the more than 50,000 members of the American Association for Nurse Practitioners, the society from which FAANP candidates are chosen, only about 500 nurse practitioners are fellows. Goodman and Hawkins-Walsh are two of about 80 nursing professionals inducted this year.

"This award is reserved for those nurse practitioners who evidence the highest standards of advanced practice nursing care, with less than 1% of approximately 150,000 nurse practitioners nationally accorded this honor," said Patricia McMullen, dean of the School of Nursing.

Goodman is a former colonel in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She served for over 25 years. One of her assignments during this time took her to Baghdad. While there, she oversaw all aspects of medical and non-medical research, primarily focusing on improving health-care delivery to the more than 200,000 deployed military personnel. At Catholic University, she teaches courses in research methods and design, statistics, evidence-based practice, and health-care issues.

Hawkins-Walsh, who earned her M.S.N. and Ph.D. from Catholic University, has served as director of the University's pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) program since 1989. The program, which was one of the first of its kind, was named one of the top 10 PNP programs in the country by US News World Report . Recently, Hawkins-Walsh was among the first group of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) in the country to become certified as a pediatric primary care mental health specialist.

The FAANP, which had its inaugural year in 2000, is dedicated to the global advancement of nurse practitioners and the care they provide. To be considered for fellowship, candidates must be nominated by a current FAANP member and must have contributed to the betterment of research, practice, education, and policy within nursing. After the yearlong application process, new fellows are inducted.

"The CUA School of Nursing is most fortunate to now have four FAANPs in our faculty cohort - newest honorees Drs. Goodman and Hawkins-Walsh, Dr. Jan Agazio and myself," said McMullen.