HISTORY of NAP
The original idea for the National Academies of Practice surfaced in 1976 when Nicholas A. Cummings, PhD was testifying before the Subcommittee on Health of the US Senate Finance Committee. The issue was Medicare reform and Dr. Cummings was representing the American Psychological Association. During the proceedings, he became disturbed at the complete lack of cooperation among the health care professional societies. During dinner that same evening, Dr. Cummings suggested to his colleagues that what the Congress needed was an interdisciplinary body of health care practitioners that would set aside turf battles and advise Congress as to what was best for the American people.
During the ensuing years, the idea of limiting membership to the most Distinguished Practitioners from each profession surfaced. It was felt that practitioners who had already earned honors, awards and recognition would be more willing to set aside parochial turf interests and address the issue of national health. The National Academies of Practice was incorporated in Washington, DC on January 20, 1981. In 1982, NAP was awarded 501 (c) (3) non-profit status. The first Academy formed was the NAP Psychology Academy.
At a historic gala black tie event held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on August 23, 1982, the first Distinguished Practitioners were inducted into NAP by Founding President Dr. Nicholas Cummings, and Ron Fox, NAP Psychology Chair.
The establishment of more Academies soon followed, and NAP grew to represent 10 interdisciplinary Academies:
• Dentistry
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Optometry
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Podiatric Medicine
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Veterinary Medicine
In 2014, NAP added four new Academies:
- Audiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech & Language Pathology
NAP includes five categories of members: Distinguished Practitioners, Distinguished Scholars, Distinguished Public Policy Fellows, Associate Members and Members Emeriti.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
The National Academies of Practice is dedicated to affordable, accessible, coordinated quality healthcare for all. We believe that healthcare practice that has an interprofessional foundation and addresses the whole person provides better healthcare and better preventive care.
MISSION
Distinguished professionals advancing interprofessional healthcare by fostering collaboration and advocating policies in the best interest of individuals and communities.
VISION
National Academies of Practice will lead and exemplify interprofessional healthcare that promotes and preserves health and well-being.
Click here to view the Strategic Plan approved by the Council in January 2016.
WHAT WE DO
To achieve this goal, NAP holds Interprofessional Healthcare Policy Forums, Congressional Briefings, Membership Symposiums, and Combined Conferences. NAP also publishes Public Policy and Position Papers, distributing key findings to Members of Congress, healthcare planners, public agencies and other interested parties. Recent policy papers include: “Transforming Healthcare: Accountable Interdisciplinary Care Coordination that Works”, “Prevention, Health and the Practicing Healthcare Professional” and “Access to Health Care”and “Achieving Accountable Coordinated Health Care”, “Towards Interdisciplinary Team Development”. We now publish The NAP Journal of Interprofessional Healthcare (JIH), a free, online journal focused on interprofessional topics in practice, education, research and policy.
The mission of the National Academies of Practice is to promote excellence in practice of health care professionals, and quality health care for all through interprofessional collaboration in service delivery, research, education, and public policy advocacy. Toward these ends, NAP
• Recognizes and honors the contributions of the nation’s leading health care practitioners through its constituent academies;
• Supports its distinguished members in developing and disseminating practices, models, curricula, and policies that enhance interprofessional collaboration in practice settings;
• Informs policy makers at the national and state levels regarding public policies that will enhance access to health care and advance excellence in the promotion of health, and prevention and treatment of disease, injury, disability, and poor health.