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School of Health Sciences director recognized by National Academies of Practice

By Tom Lotshaw
Ericka Zimmerman NAP

Ericka Zimmerman (left) was inducted as a distinguished practitioner fellow for the National Academies of Practice.

Ericka Zimmerman, a professor and director of Western Carolina University’s School of Health Sciences, was recently inducted as a distinguished practitioner fellow for the National Academies of Practice.

The NAP is a nonprofit with members from a range of health care professions serving as distinguished advisors to policymakers in Congress and elsewhere. It advocates for quality, interprofessional care to improve health outcomes for patients and communities, and extends its fellowship honors to people who excel in their professions and are dedicated to advancing interprofessional practice, dialogue, scholarship and policy.

Zimmerman, who began her career as a clinical athletic trainer, will serve as a fellow in the athletic training academy, one of more than a dozen professional academies that make up the NAP.

As director of the School of Health Sciences, Zimmerman leads a multi-disciplinary team of faculty and staff in the professions of athletic training, emergency medical care, environmental health, integrated health sciences, nutrition and dietetics, and recreational therapy.

“I’m honored by this recognition of my commitment to supporting WCU and its faculty, and our ongoing approach to collaborative, interprofessional education that benefits our students and ultimately patients in our community,” Zimmerman said. “I’m excited about this opportunity to interact with other professionals and to gain additional knowledge to support the amazing work our staff and faculty are doing in the School of Health Sciences.”

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