The National Academies of Practice (NAP) is pleased to announce the election of Janice Kuperstein, PhD, PT, as a Distinguished Scholar & Fellow. Class of 2021 Fellows were welcomed into the National Academies of Practice as part of a virtual awards and induction ceremony on March 20, 2021.

Kuperstein serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement & Clinical Engagement, as well as a professor and the College Diversity Officer for the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky. She joined the faculty in the summer of 1996.

Founded 40 years ago in 1981, NAP is an interprofessional, nonprofit organization, with membership representing a range of health care professions willing to serve as distinguished advisors to health care policy makers in Congress and elsewhere. The mission of the National Academies of Practice is to serve as distinguished professionals advancing interprofessional healthcare by fostering collaboration and advocating policies in the best interest of individuals and communities.

The 14 academies of practice within the National Academies of Practice include: Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine, Athletic Training, Audiology, Dentistry, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Podiatric Medicine, Psychology, Social Work, Speech-Language Pathology and Veterinary Medicine.

Fellowship in the National Academies of Practice is an honor extended to those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to furthering interprofessional practice, scholarship and policy in support of interprofessional care. The central purpose of NAP is to advise public policy makers on health care issues using NAP's unique perspective -- that of expert practitioners and scholars joined in interprofessional dialogue and advocacy.

"This recognition is really a tribute to the many collaborators within CHS and the other health professions colleges, who truly embrace interprofessional healthcare as an imperative to improve health and wellbeing of all people we serve," Kuperstein said. "I look forward to adding my voice to those of my colleagues across the nation in influencing policy moving forward."

For more information on the National Academies of Practice, please visit napractice.org.

The vision of the National Academies of Practice is to lead and exemplify interprofessional healthcare that promotes and preserves health and well-being.