2026 Award Recipients

2026 Outstanding Preceptor

Patty Fray, ARNP, PMHNP

For Patty, precepting reminds her “to remain curious and never lose sight of why I chose my profession.”

“Preceptorship is more inclusive than teaching how to complete a task or a procedure. It’s about helping others find their voice. It’s about empowering nurse practitioners to trust their judgement, advocate for their patient, and to feel comfortable asking questions.”

Patty works and precepts at South Correctional Entity in Des Moines. “I place great importance on remembering that behind every diagnosis, chart note, and prescribed medication is a human that deserves care and compassion.”

“Patty has so much knowledge from all her years as a PMHNP and had so many ‘this is why I do it this way’ stories from her successes and failures as a practitioner,” wrote the Student Member who nominated her. “As a student, it’s really refreshing to hear those stories obviously for the wisdom and pearls but also because it shows just how humble and amazing she is as a person.”

“Patty has obviously been a great well of knowledge for me as a student and nurse in the jail, but she’s also an amazing person and deserves this award for all her hard work, empathy she shows our patients, and joy she brings to our multidisciplinary team.”

Read Patty’s award acceptance statement.

2026 Outstanding New Practitioner

Amy Renee, DNP, ARNP, PMHNP-BC

Receiving this award, Amy wrote, “signifies hope; asserting that we as a profession will continue to come together, creating a rich collective of individuals serving society to our fullest potential.”

“It invites that being different, whether background or presentation, or the way quality care is provided, can not only impact the lives of our patients but inspire other current and future ARNPs to step outside the box, push boundaries, and live authentically. There is a place for all of us.”

Since graduating, Amy has built a practice targeting underserved communities while providing approachable, transparent, culturally competent, and responsive care through a lens of intersectionality.

“Through this process, I have embraced and celebrated my eccentric, tatted, book-collecting, cat-loving self, which I find helps create a space for patients to show up genuinely, as they are, wherever they may be in life.”

“Amy has hit the ground running!” wrote the Member who nominated her. “I met her as a bright student a few years ago when I was her preceptor. Next thing I know, she’s got her own thriving practice! Amy’s hard work and values continue to show through her new practice and what she offers to our community. People like Amy keep our community resilient and inspire other ARNPs to do our best in service to our patients.”

Read Amy’s award acceptance statement.

2026 Outstanding Volunteer

Gregory Saunders, DNP, PMHNP

It is fitting that Gregory earned recognition as a member of AAPPN’s Education Committee, which coordinates AAPPN’s conferences and master classes. “One thing becoming a PMHNP has reinforced for me is how much there is always left to learn.”

Being recognized with this award “reinforces my belief that being part of a profession extends beyond the work we do individually with our patients. It also means learning from one another, sharing our experiences, supporting our colleagues, and contributing to the continued development of our profession.”

This emphasis on connection extends to Gregory’s practice as well.

“What I value most about being a PMHNP is the privilege of being invited into people’s lives during some of their most vulnerable moments. People share things with me that they may have never told anyone else. I feel honored to be able to sit with someone in those moments, really hear and listen to what they are experiencing, and then try to help them find a way through it. That therapeutic relationship is what gives the work meaning for me.”

The Member who nominated Gregory for the award praised his dedication to the work of bringing AAPPN’s educational programs to fruition. “Greg is new to practice and relatively new to AAPPN but he’s already distinguished himself as a valuable member of our professional community.”

Read Gregory’s award acceptance statement.