Two faculty members and two alumni from the UAB School of Nursing have been inducted as fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), bringing the number of individuals from the School who have achieved this prestigious designation to 41.
Faculty are Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Education – MSN and NP Pathways Michele Talley, PhD, CRNP, ACNP-BC (PhD 2015), and Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Education Ashley Hodges, PhD, CRNP, WHNP-BC (PhD 2008). Alumni are Geraldine Young, DNP, FNP-BC (DNP 2010) and Yeow Chye Ng, PhD, CRNP (PhD 2013).
Young is an associate professor of nursing and director for graduate nursing programs for the Kentucky State University School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Ng is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Michele Talley, PhD, CRNP, ACNP-BC
Talley joined the UAB School of Nursing as an assistant professor in 2014, bringing with her experience in diabetes care and cardiac, thoracic and vascular surgery. Throughout her time at UAB, she has worked to improve educational efforts for students as well as care for individuals in the community.
“Being named as a FAANP is truly an honor, and I am so humbled to receive it,” Talley said. “Fellows are recognized as nursing leaders and change agents in their profession and community, and FAANPs work together to guide the nurse practitioner profession along new trails in research, practice, service and education. As a Fellow, I will continue to be an active champion for transforming care locally and globally.”
As MSN program director, Talley seeks innovative ways to measure program outcomes, advance in rankings and provide top-notch education. She also helped establish the Providing Access to Healthcare (PATH) Clinic, which provides high-quality care to underserved or underinsured individuals with diabetes. The clinic is one example of Talley’s contribution to clinical practice and continued improvement.
“As a Fellow, I will be able to leverage AANP’s resources to further promote quality care and access to care for vulnerable populations,” Talley said. “These resources will enable me to assist in mentoring clinicians, precepting students, advocating for underserved populations and creating innovative ways to bridge gaps in care. I look forward to partnering as a leader with the FAANP, improving health care through practice and educational efforts.”
Ashley Hodges, PhD, CRNP, WHNP-BC
Hodges was named Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Education in 2018, after seven years as Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs. As a faculty member in the UAB School of Nursing, Hodges works to foster the talents of others, help junior faculty succeed, and to continue school improvement.
“By surrounding myself among the distinguished Fellows, my passion for educating, mentoring, disseminating knowledge and impacting practice and policy will continue to flourish,” Hodges said. “Advancing patient-centered outcomes of the most vulnerable and often unheard patients at the local, state and national levels motivates and inspires me to excel. Preparing the next generation of educators and advocates is paramount. I look forward to partnering as a leader with the FAANP, impacting quality healthcare through education.”
Hodges is nationally known for her work with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Curricular Leadership Committee as Co-Chair and on the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Board of Director and Public Policy Committee. She also holds a faculty practice at The WellHouse, a nonprofit that provides a residential environment to women who are survivors of human sex trafficking. Through the clinic, Hodges provides high quality, trauma-informed care and has worked to expand care through interprofessional partnerships within UAB.
“My dedication to the advancement of NPs in the provision of trauma-informed, integrated behavioral health care to female victims of sex trafficking conveys my devotion to our profession and vulnerable women,” Hodges said. “I continue to be an active champion for transforming care to victims of sex trafficking locally and globally, advancing the mission of AANP and furthering the Fellows initiatives in shaping the future of healthcare and clinical practice. My devotion to the highest standards in patient care and my role as a NP will continue to drive and inspire me to uphold and promote the core values of the AANP.”
