The American Association of Nurse Practitioners announced on July 21 the opening of applications for the 2027 Loretta Ford Visionary Leadership Program cohort. The program, part of the AANP Leadership Academy and named after nurse practitioner co-founder Loretta Ford, combines virtual education with an immersive workshop at the AANP National Conference.
Participants in the program will earn approximately 48 contact hours of continuing education credit and take part in a live webinar on 'AI Strategy for Leaders.' At the 2027 AANP National Conference, they will participate in an In-Person Capstone Day followed by a celebratory pinning ceremony and meet-and-greet. The curriculum is designed to cultivate leadership mindsets, foster political advocacy skills, and promote continuous professional development among nurse practitioners.
Ruth Carrico and Diane Padden led the redesign of the program with a renewed focus on adapting to changes in health care. Padden said, “We looked at the previous curriculum, and then really discussed how health care is changing. The environment is quite different, quite complex.” Carrico described her experience overseeing the inaugural cohort as rewarding: “It’s a very comprehensive program, but it’s been one that has been amazing to watch develop... They want to take patient care and leadership to the next level.”
Members of the first cohort shared positive feedback about their experiences. Antiqua Smart said: “I think the Loretta Ford Visionary Program is amazing. That’s one sentence.” Callie Dimsdale added: “First off, it was an incredible experience. I can’t say enough about it... It was an introduction into the capability of NPs to be visionary leaders in multiple areas — practice, research, advocacy, education...” Jenna Eich noted that participants were able to strengthen their voices within both their profession and health care system overall.
Cohort members highlighted collaboration as a unique aspect of this program compared with others they had attended. Wendy Lobo said that while other programs focused solely on content delivery, this one encouraged active participation: “They encouraged active participation... collaboration... it really drove us to do better and continue to professionally grow.” Eich remarked on how interactive sessions were conducted virtually but still allowed opportunities for conversation and engagement with professional coaches.
Applications are open until Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT). Interested nurse practitioners can visit AANP's website for eligibility requirements and additional details about costs or objectives.
