Frances M. Sahebzamani (Rankin) to receive the 2012 AANP Nurse Practitioner State Award for Excellence

Frances M. Sahebzamani (Rankin), PhD, ARNP, FAANP, Director of Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, was selected to receive the 2012 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Nurse Practitioner State Award for Excellence. Every year, the organization recognizes one nurse practitioner from each state to be honored with this prestigious award.

AANP, the largest organization for nurse practitioners (NP) of all specialties, represents the interest of more than 148,000 NPs currently practicing in the United States. Dr. Sahebzamani is being recognized for demonstrating excellence in clinical practice.

“This is a very prestigious award and I am humbled and honored by this recognition,” Dr. Sahebzamani said.

Dr. Sahebzamani has been practicing within the USF Physicians group, Division of Family Medicine and the USF Public Sector Medicine Program in Tampa community over the last 17 years. Dr. Sahebzamani has a strong commitment to service for the underserved and uninsured in the Tampa Bay area, and has volunteered as a primary care provider for several community based free clinics since 1994 including the Judeo Christian Health Clinic, Brandon Outreach Clinic and the Good Samaritan Health Clinic. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Brandon Outreach Clinic since 2007, and has also received extramural funding to establish multiple interdisciplinary programs within these clinics to improve access to and outcomes of care for patients receiving care at these clinics.

Dr. Sahebzamani’ s clinical and research expertise is in the area of preventive cardiology and metabolic disease including the management of diabetes/insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension. She has been an invited speaker for regional, national, and international conferences and has been involved in a number of national continuing education initiatives and programs. Her current research includes post-Roux en Y Gastric Bypass outcomes and symptom management, dysmetabolic adipocyte activity and cardiovascular risk.

Dr. Sahebzamani will receive the award during AANP’s 27^th National Conference on June 20 through June 24, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.