Dr. Johnnie Sue Wijewardane
VP, Professional Practice
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
Johnnie Sue Wijewardane (Wee jay WAR de nah), Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Bio Sketch
Johnnie Sue Wijewardane, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, is the Vice President of Professional Practice for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). As an advanced practice registered nurse and board-certified family nurse practitioner, Dr. Wijewardane brings over 25 years of experience in nursing education and practice to her role.
A recognized leader in the field, Dr. Wijewardane is a recipient of the AANP State Award for Excellence and was inducted as a Fellow of the AANP in 2016. Before joining AANP, she served as Dean of Belhaven University's School of Nursing and held the position of inaugural dean at Radford University School of Nursing, where she demonstrated strategic leadership by guiding a critical merger process. Her dedication to advancing nursing education is evident through her contributions to developing and expanding nursing programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Wijewardane’s academic foundation was established through her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and a certificate in Design Thinking from Radford University. Her diverse NP practice experience includes providing care in occupational health, college health, primary care, and skilled nursing facility settings.
Her appointment to AANP underscores her commitment to promoting excellence in NP education and practice. Through her leadership, Dr. Wijewardane plays a pivotal role in advancing the role of nurse practitioners in health care delivery, ensuring they receive the support and resources needed to provide exceptional patient care nationwide.
Dr. Wijewardane’s professional interests include design thinking and incorporating artificial intelligence in NP workplaces including improving workflow and problem solving. Areas of practice expertise include patient quality and safety, cardiometabolic disease processes—especially obesity, and preventing/managing dementia. Her personal interests include traveling, playing piano, reading, and spending time with her husband, son, and 20 year old cat.
Bio Sketch
Johnnie Sue Wijewardane, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, is the Vice President of Professional Practice for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). As an advanced practice registered nurse and board-certified family nurse practitioner, Dr. Wijewardane brings over 25 years of experience in nursing education and practice to her role.
A recognized leader in the field, Dr. Wijewardane is a recipient of the AANP State Award for Excellence and was inducted as a Fellow of the AANP in 2016. Before joining AANP, she served as Dean of Belhaven University's School of Nursing and held the position of inaugural dean at Radford University School of Nursing, where she demonstrated strategic leadership by guiding a critical merger process. Her dedication to advancing nursing education is evident through her contributions to developing and expanding nursing programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Wijewardane’s academic foundation was established through her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and a certificate in Design Thinking from Radford University. Her diverse NP practice experience includes providing care in occupational health, college health, primary care, and skilled nursing facility settings.
Her appointment to AANP underscores her commitment to promoting excellence in NP education and practice. Through her leadership, Dr. Wijewardane plays a pivotal role in advancing the role of nurse practitioners in health care delivery, ensuring they receive the support and resources needed to provide exceptional patient care nationwide.
Dr. Wijewardane’s professional interests include design thinking and incorporating artificial intelligence in NP workplaces including improving workflow and problem solving. Areas of practice expertise include patient quality and safety, cardiometabolic disease processes—especially obesity, and preventing/managing dementia. Her personal interests include traveling, playing piano, reading, and spending time with her husband, son, and 20 year old cat.
