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Joseph Schaaf, M.D.: 2018 Awardee

Peter K. Simpson Advanced Practice Nursing Fan Award

2018 APNF Awardee

Joseph Schaaf, M.D., a physician at Ivinson Memorial Hospital’s Behavioral Health Service, is "truly a champion for our DNP students," says Ann Marie Hart, DNP program director. Dr. Schaaf was selected for this year’s Simpson award for many reasons, according to UW's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (PMHNP) faculty, Nancy McGee and J'Laine Proctor: “Dr. Schaaf is a natural educator and is always willing and eager to support the students in the PMHNP program. He has gone above and beyond in his preceptor roles. He is passionate about psychiatry and truly cares about the clients he serves. He has taken time to individualize unique educational opportunities for each student he has precepted. Student feedback from time spent with Dr. Schaaf reflects the extraordinary learning environment that is fostered on the unit. The PMHNP program will be forever grateful for Dr. Schaaf’s service to the university and to each student he has molded throughout his partnership with our program.”

Please scroll down for more about the Peter K. Simpson APNF Award


How the Peter K. Simpson APNF Award came about

Peter K. Simpson's background
Peter K. Simpson - best known as "Pete" - is a native of Cody, Wyoming. He is a retired historian, politician, and a member of the Simpson political family. Pete worked in academia for many years, including Casper College, Sheridan College, and finally UW, where he served in multiple prominent roles, including the vice president for development, the executive director of the UW Foundation, and vice president for institutional advancement. After his retirement in 1997, Pete remained in Laramie and taught history and political science on an adjunct basis. His political career involved serving on the Wyoming legislature. During his four-year stint in the legislature, he was a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Pete has remained active in his retirement years. He makes frequent trips to Laramie and UW. He enjoys acting and regularly seeks out thespian opportunities with his wife, including leads in plays and musicals such as “The Music Man”, “Our Town” and “On Golden Pond”. 

Simpson inspires new award
Despite his strong academic, political, and acting accomplishments, Pete is best known for being a wonderful, kind man, who loves Wyoming and its people. Thus in 2012, when Loretta Ford (founder of the NP profession) agreed to visit UW, the school of nursing invited Pete to interview Loretta in a public forum. Despite having never met Dr. Ford, Pete did a wonderful job with this interview and seemed to thoroughly enjoy Loretta’s playful sarcasm. That evening, Pete joined the school for the 9th Willow Ceremony and shared how much he admired and respected NPs. He then surprised the audience by proclaiming that he was adding a new credential to his title – "A.P.N.F. – Advanced Practice Nursing Fan." Thus, in honor of Pete and his admiration of Advanced Practice Nurses, the DNP Program created the Peter K. Simpson, Advanced Practice Nursing Fan Award to honor an individual who is not an advanced practice nurse, but who shares Pete’s admiration and respect for such.  


Article posted 5/2018

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