2025 Award Recipients

September 18, 2025 by AAPPN

We’re proud to announce this year’s outstanding advanced practice psychiatric nurses.

Nurses Honoring Nurses

Each year, AAPPN members submit award nominations to shine a spotlight on advanced practice psychiatric nurses who inspire, lead, and innovate. Our Awards Review Committee, made up of AAPPN member volunteers, reviews the nominations and determines the recipients.

2025 Nursing Excellence

Jeremy Bang, ARNP, DNP, PMHNP‑BC

Jeremy calls himself a bit of a late bloomer. But perhaps the diversity of his work and life experience informs his approach to client care, which the member who nominated him referred to as “truly unique, setting him apart.”

Jeremy spent more than two decades working in the hospitality industry. He saw the depression, anxiety, and self-medication resulting from that challenging environment, and how difficult it was for his colleagues to access support. This experience influenced his perspective as he established himself as a PMHNP.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself: my ambition, how to better handle adversity, and how to pick myself up when things got tough,” he wrote. “My hope is that through my work I can give some of these same opportunities to others—whether through clear communication of a diagnosis, empathy and patience while someone figures something out for themselves, or mentoring a student who needs extra support to get where they’re going.”

The member who nominated Jeremy witnessed his work at an Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) facility, where he consistently demonstrates clinical excellence, professional integrity, and deep human empathy.

“Jeremy exemplifies the highest standards of advanced practice psychiatric nursing,” she wrote. “His commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care is not just a professional duty, but a deeply ingrained part of his character.”

Read Jeremy’s award acceptance statement.

2025 Outstanding Volunteer

Katsuko “Kay” Tanaka, MN, PMHCNS‑BC, DNP

Some volunteers like to be in the spotlight. Others like to work behind the scenes, doing work which is invaluable to the success of the entire group. Kay is a shining example of a quiet volunteer for AAPPN.

Kay has written a number of member profiles, including Zoë Evans-Agnew, Keondra Rustan, and Cindy Bello-Utu. These profiles are critical to AAPPN’s outreach and maintaining a welcoming presence. Through them, our community learns about their colleagues and the role AAPPN has played in members’ professional lives.

Kay worked for 30 years at the Veteran’s Administration, including 28 years at the Seattle VA. Her last 13 years until retirement in 2010 was as ARNP at the dual diagnosis outpatient clinic. She also served in the Army Nurse Corps Reserve, and in active duty during the Persian Gulf War, stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Kay has volunteered for AAPPN with the Membership Committee and writing profiles since 2019. In writing about her accomplishments penning the member profiles, Kay’s humility and team spirit is indicative of her character.

“Each profile is the outcome of a collaborative effort,” she wrote. “The profile person who answers my questions and writes accordingly, and Chris, who connects the profile person with the background information and edits my finalized profile to the AAPPN newsletter. Receiving the award means this collaborative work was successful, thus we are all receiving it together.”

Read Kay’s award acceptance statement.

2025 Outstanding Student Member

Jacqueline Sammons, APRN, PMHNP‑C, FNP‑C

At an age when many consider retirement, Jackie has boldly enrolled in a post-master’s certificate program as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Jackie’s nursing journey began as a young mother balancing parenthood, work as a nursing assistant, and attending community college. This foundation shaped her early career, where she excelled in acute care pediatrics and leadership roles.

While working in pediatric research, Jackie became drawn to the challenges of childhood obesity. Recognizing the limitations of treating children in isolation from their families, she returned to school to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. After a decade practicing in primary and urgent care, she is returning to her academic work to become a PMHNP.

“Her commitment to holistic patient-centered care and evidence-based practice is outstanding,” wrote the member who nominated her. “Her intelligence shines brightly.”

“Clients would bloom in response to the time and attention she paid them. Her insatiable curiosity often led both of us to new expert perspectives in our field.”

In her first few weeks after returning to school, Jackie faced a life-threatening illness, emergency surgery, and a cancer diagnosis. She has persevered, and she can see the promise of her dream of becoming a DNP in psychiatric nursing.

“I’m honored to be part of AAPPN’s community of altruistic and devoted psychiatric nurse practitioners committed to advancing mental health care.”

Read Jackie’s biography.