2019 Champion Award Winner

Thomas Tracy, MD

This year the Champion award was presented to a supportive and dedicated surgeon who defines what a Champion award recipient is. Dr. Tracy was nominated and recognized by two APSNA members who have recognized his support and commitment to APSNA.

His value of the NP role in Pediatric Surgery was evident to the team he worked alongside. Dr. Tracy valued the Nurse Practitioner role and felt that it was necessary for them to add another dimension to the pediatric surgery service.

Hillary Lorenco, current Director of Development
It is evident that he is a great supporter of the nursing role in Pediatric Surgery. This goes hand and hand with his support of APSNA. When I was hired it was not only encouraged, but also expected that I became an APSNA member and that I was involved at national conference. Within one year of working in my role, I was already presenting a poster. Under his tenure as Chief, ALL of his nurse practitioners have lectured and presented posters at national conference. He also was so proud when his most senior Nurse Practitioner was elected APSNA President. He has made it a point to make sure that our conferences are covered by our organization, saying that attending conferences is invaluable.

Neil Ead, APSNA Past President
He enabled me to carve out my role in an environment where there were few, if any, mentors for an NP. At no other time in my career, after leaving my first job as an RN in a Pediatric Surgery Special Care Unit, did I feel more at home and more supported. I have stayed in this job for 20 years. If it weren’t for Tom Tracy I would never have been able to say this. He is someone who truly values the role of nursing. That said, I whole-heartedly support him in the receipt of APSNAs Champion Award. I can’t imagine there is anyone more deserving.