ANCC Announces Award Winners During Inaugural Global PDP Summit

Silver Spring, MD – The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced the winners of four accreditation awards during a special ceremony at the inaugural Professional Development & Practice (PDP) Summit in Orlando, Florida. The ceremony celebrated the organizations and program directors who have achieved exemplary practice within NCPD, APPFA, and PTAP accredited organizations. There were four categories of awards presented this year: The ANCC Accreditation Premier Award™, the ANCC NCPD Program Director of the Year Award, the PTAP Program Director of the Year Award, and the APPFA Program Director of the Year Award.

“These awards recognize the forward-thinking, innovative and committed nature of program directors and hospitals,” said Bradley Goettl, DNP, DHA, APRN, FAAN, FACHE, Chief Nursing Officer of the American Nurses Enterprise. “The future of professional development and practice across the healthcare ecosystem is brighter because of the continued investment, focus, and continuous improvement embodied by these awardees. Convening leaders from across the US and globally at this summit is a testament to the impact of their work.”  

The ANCC Accreditation Premier Award™, Sponsored by Dossier

This award is presented annually to one or more fully accredited organizations recognized as exemplars in nursing continuing professional development, demonstrating excellence in leveraging accreditation criteria to achieve strategic goals and advance nursing professional practice. Award recipients hold this distinction for a two-year period. This year’s awardees include:

• Southern New Hampshire University Nursing 
• Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare 
• Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital 
• Northwell Health 
• New York Presbyterian 
• Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital Riyadh Nursing Professional and Practice Development Center 
• Ballad Health 
• Medscape, LLC 

PTAP Program Director of the Year: Lauren Danforth, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, of Boston Children’s Hospital

Established in 2021, this award highlights the contribution of a PTAP Accredited Program Director who embodies a commitment to continuous quality improvement that positively impacts nursing practice and utilizes data to drive practice changes related to their transition to practice program. 

Since 2019, Lauren Danforth has ensured alignment between the program at Boston Children’s Hospital and ANCC PTAP standards, resulting in accreditation with distinction twice. Her data-driven interventions, including the creation of an internal transfer process, helped increase one-year retention rates to 97%. Additionally, the implementation of the Tiered Skills Acquisition Model® improved competence and reduced orientation hours, saving $29,000 for the hospital.

APPFA Program Director of the Year: Amelia Cataldo, DNP, RN CPNP-AC, CCRN, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Established in 2024, this award highlights the contribution of an APPFA Accredited Program Director (APRN or PA) who embodies a commitment to continuous quality improvement that positively impacts APP practice and utilizes data to drive practice changes related to their transition to practice program.

Dr. Amelia Cataldo implemented major reforms at her healthcare facility by appointing a dedicated Quality Improvement project lead and establishing a partnership with the institution’s Evidence-Based Practice program, providing a structured curriculum, mentorship, and stronger guidance for fellows. Resulting initiatives addressed meaningful clinical challenges and received high praise during APP Grand Rounds presentations. Satisfaction scores rose from 3.6 to 4.4 out of 5, reflecting dramatic improvements in the fellow experience and project outcomes. 

ANCC NCPD Program Director of the Year: Pamela S. Dickerson, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC®, FAAN, of ANCC

This annual award was established in 2026 and highlights the contributions of an ANCC NCPD Accredited Provider Program Director who embodies a commitment to continuous quality improvement that positively impacts nursing professional development and innovative educational design in accreditation.

Dr. Pam Dickerson has made extraordinary contributions to the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation since 1995. Over the course of her distinguished career, she has served as a content expert, thought leader, and innovator in nursing continuing professional development, helping to shape and advance the field in enduring ways. Dr. Dickerson has been a pioneering force in accreditation, contributing significantly to the evolution of nursing continuing professional development accreditation, leading the development of the ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP).

To learn more about ANCC accreditation programs, its benefits and the requirements to earn accreditation, please visit the ANCC Accreditation Center.

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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center works with the nation’s largest group of healthcare professionals to uphold the highest standards of nursing excellence. With a comprehensive suite of individual certifications and organizational accreditation programs designed to foster research, innovation, career growth, and leadership development, the credentialing center equips nurses to achieve safer, patient-centric outcomes both nationally and internationally. Committed to harnessing The Power of Nurses™ to elevate care standards worldwide, the credentialing center continuously sets the benchmarks that support excellence in every facet of nursing practice.

About Dossier

Dossier offers a healthcare competency management platform that provides full visibility and real-time reporting by individual, department, facility, or enterprise. With Dossier, competency plans can be created, updated, and assigned within clicks – giving your team more time, for themselves, for training, and for patients. Healthcare organizations embarking on digital transformations rely on Dossier’s platform to help maximize their return on investment (ROI) from their learning assets because it provides visibility into course completion.