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Pictured:
Dr. Sue Lowe (center),
with UW School of Nursing Dean, Mary Burman (left),
and DNP faculty member Esther Gilman-Kehrer (right)
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2017 APNF Awardee
Sue E. Lowe, O.D., FCOVD, FAAO, an optometrist at Snowy Range Vision Center in Laramie,
Wyoming, is the 2017 Peter K. Simpson A.P.N.F. Awardee. A.P.N.F. stands for "Advanced
Practice Nursing Fan." The University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing
presented the award to Lowe in April at the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program's
annual Willow Ceremony, an event encouraging DNP students as the progress in their
program of study.
Supporting APNs since the 1980's
Dr. Lowe has been supporting advanced practice nurses since the 1980s, when she first
formed a relationship with the School of Nursing to help teach vision and eye health
to nurse practitioner (NP) students. "Although we don’t know the exact year that Sue
first started teaching for the NP program," says DNP Program Director Ann Marie Hart,
"we know that she has been doing this for at least 30 years, and we suspect that most
if not all graduates from our NP program have been taught by Dr. Lowe."
Instruction for students and guidance to faculty
Every year, Dr. Lowe has worked with her colleagues from Snowy Range Vision Center
to hold a vision night for the UW NP students. The future nurse practitioners receive
intense, hands-on instruction on vision and eye exam techniques. Dr. Lowe also provides
guest lectures for NP students on a variety of eye and vision topics, and provides
guidance to the nursing faculty on eye and vision health curricula as well.
Choosing Lowe for the APNF Award
"Although Dr. Lowe has provided hundreds of teaching hours to our NP program and its
students," says Hart, "she is not receiving this award due to her impressive track
record. Rather, Dr. Lowe is receiving this award because of her decades-long enthusiasm
and support for advanced practice nurses, especially NPs. Dr. Lowe respects the work
of NPs. She values what NPs do and does not see them as inferior health care providers.
She advocates for expanded NP roles and is always complimentary of their role."
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From Dr. Lowe.
Involvement with APNs and Dr. Fay W. Whitney
Lowe, looking back over her career, says, "It has been extremely rewarding and beneficial
for me professionally and personally to have been involved with the advanced practice
nurses over the years." Lowe came on board as an adjunct faculty teaching ocular disease
and vision testing when the school's namesake, Dr. Fay W. Whitney, directed the FNP
program. "Dr. Whitney was a true inspiration to me," says Lowe, "and has been a visionary
mentor to the APN students at UW."
Lowe continues her praise of UW nursing faculty teaching in the DNP program, ".who are continuing to exemplify, lead and educate in advanced interprofessional healthcare. They provide guidance to promote and preserve the health and well-being of our patients."
Speaking to today's complex nature of health issues.
.and future healthcare systems, Lowe predicts that "it will continue to require DNP's
to work collaboratively with all disciplines to achieve the desired patient outcomes.This
will always include advocating health and welfare policies for the benefit of individuals
and their communities."
"You as DNP's will continue to improve and save lives," says Lowe. "You did mine."
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Please scroll down for more about the Peter K. Simpson APNF Award
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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.
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Article posted 4/25/2017