DAPHNE — Sue Grindel of Mobile has recently received the state award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence from American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Grindel works at The Shoulder in Daphne as a certified family nurse practitioner, performing physicals, providing basic health care and running The Shoulder’s medical clinic. The Shoulder is a non-profit, Christian 12-step rehabilitation center that has been in operation since 1988. Grindel has been on staff since 2000.

“It takes a unique individual with a big heart to do what Sue does here at The Shoulder,” said Phillip Drane, executive director of The Shoulder. “Sue left a job as a charge nurse at a local hospital to work at a small non-profit because of her love for people.”

Grindel received the award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence at a ceremony and reception last week during the AANP 21st Annual National Conference in Indianapolis.

Founded in 1991, the award recognizes a nurse practitioner in each state who demonstrates excellence in practice, research, nurse practitioner education or community affairs.

“Sue deserves this award more than anyone I know, and we are proud she is part of our staff,” Drane said.

Grindel received her BSN from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She earned a master’s in Public Health from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and an MSN from the University of South Alabama. For 22 years, she worked at Providence Hospital. She is also a member of the local Bay Area Nurse Practitioners’ Association.

The AANP was founded in 1985 and is the oldest and largest full-service national professional organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties.

They represent the interests of more than 90,000 nurse practitioners around the country.

(Submitted by Debbie Hanson)