Katsuko “Kay” Tanaka, 2025 Outstanding Volunteer
“I am originally from Japan. I received MN at OHSU in 1980. With extra requirements for an expanded scope of practice for nurse practitioners in Oregon state then, I received PMHCNS-BC in 1981.
“I worked for 30 years at VA (including 28 years at Seattle VA). My last 13 years of work till retirement in 2010 was ARNP at the dual diagnosis outpatient clinic. I was in the Army Nurse Corps Reserve from 1987 to 1997, and served active duty during the Persian Gulf War, stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“In 2011, I went back to school as I was wondering what the DNP would offer. In March 2013, I received a DNP from the UW. It was worth going back to school as I was able to do the capstone project to help Japanese nurses who had to support the post-2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. From 2011 to 2019, I did part-time ARNP private practice and retired.
“I am honored to receive the Award in recognition of profile writing volunteer work. Each profile is the outcome of a collaborative effort: 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.”