The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State (NPA), the only statewide professional association of nurse practitioners, has named Janice Ceccucci, DNP, FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner of the Year, and Daniel Babcock, MS, FNP-C, NP Student of the Year. The awards were presented at The NPA 35th Annual Conference, held in Verona, NY, and were attended by nearly 500 NPs and NP students from across the state.
Stephen Ferrara, DNP, FNP, FAANP, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at Columbia University School of Nursing and Executive Director of the Nurse Practitioner Association New York State, said, “As health care professionals committed to excellence in patient care, nurse practitioners are redefining their role. We’re extremely pleased to recognize Janice Ceccucci and Dan Babcock for their dedication and service.”
Forensic NP and Professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute Is NP of the Year
Janice Ceccucci is an outstanding Nurse Practitioner and SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner). Ceccucci began her career working with sexual assault victims in the Emergency Department. Recognizing that there were gaps in services, particularly for child sex abuse victims, she decided to pursue forensic nursing. She is committed to ensuring services for child sex abuse and physical abuse patients are widely available.
“Janice takes nursing to the next level,” says colleague (and nominator) Elizabeth Spooner Dunn. “Her passion for the profession, dedication to her patients and commitment to excellence make her not just a trusted colleague but an example and mentor to all.”
Ceccucci has also received the Joan Unger Memorial Award given by the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault for demonstrating excellence and innovation in services offered to the community in sexual assault. She has also been published by the Journal of Forensic Nursing and is co-founder of Forensic Nurse Practitioners of Schenectady.
On Call, Inside and Out of the Hospital
Outside the confines of Saratoga Hospital, Ceccucci is on call at home 36 hours a month to provide teleconsulting services to hospitals in remote areas that lack access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs). In addition, she conducts sexual assault exams for pediatric patients at child advocacy centers—a service that Ceccucci and a colleague introduced in 2011 to better serve sexually abused children.
A leader in promoting the profession to the next generation, Ceccucci is an assistant professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. She is also the co-director and developer of Saratoga Hospital’s Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Program, which mentors new nurse practitioners and physician assistants, also known as advanced practice providers. And, in case that was not enough to take on, Ceccucci is an assistant professor of nursing for SUNY Polytechnic in Utica and helped pilot a hybrid program that delivers live streaming and on-campus classes.
“I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
Ceccucci received her master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from SUNY Poly in 2009, and was awarded her doctorate in Nursing Practice from State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse in 2016.
“I’m proud to be the recipient of the NP of the Year. There are so many wonderful opportunities in nursing. For newer NPs, I would advise they take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. I love being an NP. I wouldn’t want to do anything else,” Ceccucci said.
For further information on Janice Ceccucci, visit here.
NP Student of the Year Dan Babcock
Dan Babcock is an Air Force veteran and a former professional fire officer and paramedic who is currently a full-time Graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Student in the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University. He holds a BS in Nursing from Empire State College and as a Registered Nurse has worked in the emergency department and diagnostic imaging. After retiring as a lieutenant from the City of Binghamton’s Fire Department with 20 years of service, he decided to become a nurse practitioner. As Babcock grew up in rural Delaware County, New York, he has a particular interest in improving the health of the poor, rural and vulnerable populations that influenced his early life.
“It’s an honor to be awarded NP Student of the Year. I chose to become a nurse practitioner because I love being challenged and love the relationships I form with my patients. Aside from the need for primary care providers, I chose family practice to give me a solid foundation for medical mission work. My wife and I do mission work in Guatemala several times a year, and I would like to do medical missions as a nurse practitioner,” Babcock said.
Nurse Practitioner Association New York State
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses who have completed advanced education, at a Master‘s or Doctorate level, plus additional clinical preparation. These professionals are authorized to independently diagnose illness and physical conditions, perform therapeutic and corrective measures, order tests, prescribe medications, devices and immunizing agents, and refer patients to other health care providers.
The Nurse Practitioner Association New York State (The NPA), the only statewide professional association of nurse practitioners, promotes high standards of healthcare delivery through the empowerment of nurse practitioners and the profession throughout New York State. For more information, visit: www.TheNPA.org.
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