Congratulations to Debra Fournier – 2024 NHNPA NP of the Year Award Recipient

The New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner Association is proud to announce that Debra Fournier, MHCDS, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC has been named the 2024 Nurse Practitioner of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes Debra for her outstanding leadership, clinical excellence, and relentless advocacy for the role of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in New Hampshire.

Debra currently serves as the Lead Advanced Practice Provider (APP) at New Hampshire Hospital and the Interim Chief APP Officer for the Dartmouth Health Department of Psychiatry. Throughout her distinguished career, she has dedicated herself to supporting APPs in their roles, ensuring that they have the tools and autonomy needed to excel in their practice.

Debra’s impact extends beyond her clinical and leadership roles:

• She has been instrumental in developing statewide training programs on legal processes related to involuntary hospitalizations.

• She has served as an Instructor at the Geisel School of Medicine, sharing her expertise with future healthcare leaders.

• Debra’s commitment to fostering collaborative care between NPs and physicians has transformed the way care is delivered to vulnerable populations, especially those in acute psychiatric crisis.

In addition to her numerous accomplishments, Debra is deeply admired for her ability to inspire and mentor other healthcare professionals. As one of her nominators noted, “Great leaders create more leaders, and Debra is an exceptional example of this. Her influence is felt not just through her own achievements but through the many leaders she has helped shape within the field.”

Debra’s compassion and leadership were especially evident during a time of tragedy at New Hampshire Hospital, where she played a key role in helping her colleagues heal and rebuild after the loss of a coworker. Her ability to foster an atmosphere of trust, resilience, and healing speaks to her character as a leader and clinician.

Please join us in congratulating Debra Fournier, a truly deserving recipient of the 2024 NHNPA NP of the Year Award. We are grateful for her unwavering commitment to advancing Nurse Practitioner practice and improving healthcare for the people of New Hampshire.