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  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dr. Torica Fuller with Distinguished Service to Society Award

    In honor of her commitment to providing healthcare to those who are uninsured and underinsured, Dr. Torica Fuller, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FNP-C, WHNP-BC, CDP, CGRN, CPN, NRCME, was named a recipient of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Distinguished Service to Society Award. The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Distinguished Service to Society award is given annually in recognition of a Frontier Nursing University graduate who gives above and beyond to provide exceptional service in his or her community.

    Dr. Fuller was born in Fremont, North Carolina, and now practices in North Carolina as a family nurse practitioner and a women’s healthcare nurse practitioner. She works primarily in public health, caring for patients across the lifespan. Her clinical focus includes women’s health, child health, preventive care, communicable disease, epidemiology and patient education. She is also a Carolina Hepatitis Academic Mentorship Program (CHAMP) provider and is the sole provider in her clinic to provide Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment.

    Dr. Fuller earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from East Carolina University (ECU), her Master’s and FNP Post-Masters certification from Indiana Wesleyan University, and her DNP from ECU. She completed her Post-Graduate Women’s Health Care Certificate at FNU in 2023. Dr. Fuller joined FNU faculty in April 2023.

    She balances her time between clinical practice and teaching to stay current and bring real-world experience into the classroom. She serves as Clinical Transition Coordinator and Assistant Professor at FNU.

    “Being both a provider and an educator allows me to keep my work meaningful and impactful every day,” Dr. Fuller said. “I’m committed to lifelong learning and helping others find their path in this incredibly rewarding profession.”

    In 2025, Dr. Fuller was selected by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to participate in the organization’s 2025 Diversity Leadership Institute.

  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dr. Samantha Paradis with Distinguished Service to Society Award

    In honor of their remarkable service to community, Dr. Samantha Paradis, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CARN-AP, was named a recipient of the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Distinguished Service to Society Award. The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Distinguished Service to Society award recognizes a graduate who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service to their community.

    Originally from Aroostook County, Maine, Dr. Paradis completed their DNP at FNU in 2024, but their experience in healthcare spans the last 20 years. During that time, Dr. Paradis has provided direct care to individuals living with opioid use disorder, military veterans with dementia, LGBTQIA+ adults in rural areas, and seasonal farm workers.

    “Nurturing connections with community organizations that amplify the voices of those on the margins has been at the center of my life work,” Dr. Paradis said. “In parallel to my healthcare career, I have always maintained deep community connections, in college even being voted most likely to be volunteering.”
    Dr. Paradis’ commitment to public service has led them to help establish the first public library in their hometown; serve as the first queer and youngest mayor of Belfast, Maine; become a therapeutic foster parent; and to help support the passage of Maine’s robust family medical leave in 2023.

    “From caregiving for my own children and family to caring for my patients, I have been most enriched by my time spent in community with other people,” Dr. Paradis said. “Sometimes, being a witness to the challenges life presents can be the biggest gift you can give someone.”

  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dr. Michael Carter with Lifetime Service Award

    In honor of his more than two decades of service and leadership to Frontier Nursing University (FNU), Dr. Michael Carter was named a recipient of FNU’s Lifetime Service Award. The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Lifetime Service Award recognizes an individual or organization providing long-standing support and commitment to the mission and work of Frontier Nursing University.

    Dr. Carter, who passed away in June of 2025, served as Chair of the Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors from 2009 to April 2025. Dr. Carter’s long history with Frontier Nursing University dates to 2003 when he joined what was then the Frontier Nursing Service Board of Governors. Dr. Carter’s leadership was marked by his determination, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his extraordinary passion.

    “Michael was respected for his excellence as a practitioner, educator, and leader,” FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders said. “He was loved for his kindness, generosity, grace, and beloved storytelling ability. Dr. Carter will be terribly missed, but always fondly remembered.”

    Dr. Carter grew up on a farm in Missouri and went on to attend the University of Arkansas College of Nursing, earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1969 and his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 1973. He served in the United States Army Nurse Corp from 1968-71 during the Vietnam War. He earned his doctorate in 1979 from the Boston University School of Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Tennessee in 2009. He completed a Fellowship in Primary Care Health Policy with the United States Public Health Service.

    Dr. Carter practiced as a family and geriatric nurse practitioner and served as the Dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing from 1982-2000. He held many teaching positions including serving as an adjunct professor at the Curtin University School of Nursing and Midwifery in Perth, Australia. He also worked to develop nurse practitioner education in Australia. In recognition of his expertise and dedication to nursing in Australia, he was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners.

    Dr. Carter’s extensive list of awards and honors include but are not limited to: Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 1982; Outstanding Alumnus from the University of Tennessee College of Nursing in 2000; Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Tennessee Health Science Center Student Government Association in 2005; Lifetime Achievement Award, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties in 2015; the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. Shortly before his passing, Frontier Nursing University selected Dr. Carter as the 2025 recipient of its Lifetime Service Award in recognition of his unyielding support over many years.

    During his more than 20 years at Frontier, Dr. Carter was instrumental in many milestone moments for the university. He was on the Board of Governors when what was then known as the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing launched the Doctor of Nursing Practice program in 2008. Notably, he was the Board Chair when the university officially changed its name to Frontier Nursing University in 2011.

    In 2017, under Dr. Carter’s visionary leadership, FNU made the pivotal decision to purchase property in Versailles, Kentucky, an investment aimed at expanding student access and supporting the university’s growth. That same year, FNU began taking applications for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner MSN degree. Then, in 2022, after the completion of renovations and construction, Frontier held the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opening the Versailles campus. Most recently, Dr. Carter initiated the successful search for and transition to FNU’s second president, Dr. Brooke A. Flinders, in 2024.

    Dr. Carter was a staunch supporter of FNU over the years and provided many financial contributions to support students and FNU’s campus. In 2021, Dr. Carter, his wife Dr. Sarah Carter, and their daughter Elizabeth Carter, JD, announced a $500,000 donation to further the mission of FNU. The gift furthers Dr. Carter’s commitment and lifelong work to enrich the nursing profession across the globe.

    “His extraordinary leadership was exceeded only by his wisdom, kindness, and dedication to the care of others,” said FNU Board of Directors Chair Marcus Osborne. “The debt of gratitude that is owed to him is immense.”

  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dr. Jenkins Michelle Lawhorn with Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award

    In honor of her dedicated service to her students, Dr. Jenkins Michelle Lawhorn, DNP, CNM, RNC-OB, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award given by Frontier Nursing University (FNU). The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award honors a nurse-midwife or nurse practitioner who has supported FNU through volunteering and/or philanthropy.

    Raised in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Dr. Lawhorn lives and works in North Carolina, where she has resided for over 20 years. She is a two-time graduate of Frontier, where she received both her master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis in nurse-midwifery and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. As a board-certified nurse midwife, Dr. Lawhorn has provided full scope midwifery care in both the community and hospital setting. She holds additional certifications in inpatient obstetrics nursing and electronic fetal monitoring and provides midwifery care at the University of North Carolina Health.

    At Frontier, Dr. Lawhorn shares her extensive knowledge as Regional Clinical Faculty in the Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health. She is also the 2025 Inclusive Excellence Facutly Representative to the President’s Cabinet at Frontier.

    Dr. Lawhorn gives her time and training without hesitation. Her service to the community has included starting a waterbirth program at a community hospital, volunteering through Junior Achievement to discuss midwifery with high school students and speaking at local elementary schools. She was nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award at the University of North Carolina HealthCare in 2024.

    “I enjoy supporting and teaching the next generations of advanced practice nurses,” Dr. Lawhorn said. “I just show up as myself for Frontier and my community, because that is my calling.”

  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dr. Eric Lakomek with Unbridled Spirit Award

    In honor of his remarkable service to community, Dr. Eric Lakomek was named a recipient of the Unbridled Spirit Award, given annually by Frontier Nursing University (FNU). The award was presented at the FU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Unbridled Spirit Award is given annually to a former Courier who has perpetuated the mission and spirit of Frontier in their own lives. The award recognizes dedication to serving others, ongoing stewardship of FNU, and a zest for adventure.

    In 2019, during the summer between his sophomore and junior years at Wabash College in Indiana, Dr. Lakomek was selected to participate in FNU’s Courier program. The summer program immerses undergraduate students from around the country in a public health and volunteerism internship.

    “That experience was transformative,” said Dr. Lakomek, who is a first-year pediatric resident at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. “It gave me firsthand exposure to the challenges rural communities face and showed me how meaningful a physician’s role can be, not only in providing medical care but also in building trust and strengthening communities.”

    While at Wabash College, Dr. Lakomek founded the Red Shoe Project, which is dedicated to providing sporting equipment to children and families who cannot otherwise afford it.

    Dr. Lakomek graduated magna cum laude from Wabash, majoring in psychology with minors in chemistry and global health. He then attended Marian University’s Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was inducted into Sigma Sigma Phi, the honorary osteopathic service fraternity, as well as the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

    During his time at Marian, he worked with underserved populations, serving in free clinics that provided essential care to those who were otherwise without access to care.

    Dr. Lakomek is trained in both inpatient and outpatient pediatrics, with exposure to general pediatrics as well as subspecialty services. He manages acute illnesses, chronic medical conditions, and preventive care needs while maintaining a strong emphasis on family-centered care.

    “I am deeply committed to a career in pediatrics,” Dr. Lakomek said. “I see pediatrics not only as caring for children’s medical needs, but also as advocating for their growth, development, and overall well-being. Whether through direct patient care, community engagement, or broader policy initiatives, I hope to dedicate my career to advancing equity, amplifying the voices of children and families, and making a lasting impact in the field.”

  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dorothy Trefts with Unbridled Spirit Award

    In recognition of her remarkable career accomplishments, Dorothy “Dede” Trefts was honored as the recipient of the Unbridled Spirit Award, given by Frontier Nursing University (FNU). The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Unbridled Spirit Award is given annually to a former Courier who has perpetuated the mission and spirit of Frontier in their own lives. The award recognizes dedication to serving others, ongoing stewardship of FNU, and a zest for adventure.

    Trefts grew up in East Aurora, New York, and in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She spent the spring of her senior year of high school as a member of the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) Courier program. There, she assisted the FNS nurses, tended to the horses the nurses used to traverse the mountainous terrain in order to reach their patients, and helped in the office.

    “As a seventeen-year-old high school student, I had never heard of an organization that was female-driven from top to bottom,” Trefts said. “What an eye-opening, motivating experience for a teenager to be able to witness the incredible power of women so dedicated to improving the healthcare of the population and the lives of its children in a remote county in Kentucky. It inspired me over the course of my career to have seen the huge impact that women in leadership positions could make in the lives of others.”

    Trefts went on to attend Wellesley College in Boston, where she majored in economics and English. She was then accepted at the Harvard Business School. Inspired by her father’s career experiences in engineering and technology, she became interested in how computers could change and improve people’s lives. Later, her career came full circle as she got involved in the acquisition of new technology and services startups into IBM Global Services and was able to utilize her background in starting new ventures to help them succeed in a large company setting.

    Trefts retired three years ago but continues to enjoy serving on non-profit boards and volunteering. She has served on the boards of the Chautauqua Institution, Laurel School, her church, Arts for Healing, and Gulfstream Goodwill. She has also donated her time to mentor women and guide them as they advance their careers. Equally impactful is her commitment to mentoring women, guiding and encouraging them as they advance in their own careers.

    “What matters the most to me is whether I’m making a difference,” Trefts said. “I am so honored to be remembered by an organization that was so inspirational to me as a young woman about to embark on an important step in my life.

  • Frontier Nursing University Honors Dr. Cathy Cook with Distinguished Preceptor Award

    In honor of her commitment to precepting nursing students, Dr. Cathy Cook, DNP, APRN-FPA, CNM, FACNM was named a recipient of the Distinguished Preceptor Award given by Frontier Nursing University (FNU). The award was presented at the FNU Alumni Hall of Fame and Service Awards Dinner on Thursday, September 25, at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky.

    The Distinguished Preceptor Award recognizes a graduate providing long-standing support and commitment to the mission and work of FNU through precepting students.

    Dr. Cook, who is a obtained her Certified Nurse-Midwife and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees at FNU, worked as a certified nurse-midwife from 1998-2020, primarily practicing in Galesburg, Illinois. She specialized in natural childbirth and providing individualized education and prenatal care to expectant mothers. She has since received Full Practice Authority and opened her own aesthetic and hormone optimization clinic.

    While maintaining this demanding career, Dr. Cook has been eager to give back as a preceptor. Preceptors are experienced licensed clinicians who supervise nursing students during their clinical practicum. In total, Cook has served as a preceptor to an incredible 270 Frontier students.

    “Students teach us as much as we teach them,” said Dr. Cook, who is also on faculty at Frontier. “They help us see things through new eyes. Some of us who have been practicing for a long time may not know the newest items in healthcare. Students can teach us those things if we are open and willing to learn from them.”
    Dr. Cook was previously presented with FNU’s Distinguished Service to Alma Mater award (2021), in recognition of her wide range of contributions to the university. The award specifically honors graduates who have supported Frontier through volunteer efforts and/or donor support.

    Dr. Cook’s additional awards include the Kitty Ernst Scholarship (1997), induction in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society (2017), and American College of Nurse-Midwives Fellow (2022).

  • Frontier Nursing University holds investiture ceremony for Dr. Brooke A. Flinders

    Frontier Nursing University holds investiture ceremony for Dr. Brooke A. Flinders

    Frontier Nursing University held an investiture ceremony on September 26, 2025, for President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders, DNP, RN, APRN-CNM, FACNM. The presidential investiture ceremony is a formal event that signifies the beginning of a new chapter of leadership for the university, and it provides an opportunity for the university, guests, and community to witness the formal installation of the new leader. Guests gathered for the event on Frontier’s campus in Versailles, Kentucky.

    “The investiture of Dr. Flinders was a monumental day for Frontier Nursing University,” said Marcus Osborne, Chair of the FNU Board of Directors. “In her first year as FNU’s president, she has consistently demonstrated the vision and expertise that led to her selection for this role. With Dr. Flinders’ leadership, we are extremely excited and optimistic about the current and future success of Frontier.”

    Dr. Flinders officially began her tenure as FNU’s president on August 1, 2024. Dr. Flinders holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Frontier. She succeeded President Emerita and Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing Dr. Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FACNM, FAAN, who served as FNU’s President for 23 years (2001-2024).

    “I am proud and honored to hold the position of President of Frontier Nursing University,” Dr. Flinders said. “My connection to Frontier extends nearly two full decades, and I am so grateful to be one of its more than 11,000 graduates. I loved my time as a student and have been thoroughly impressed by the university’s lived mission and how it has been embraced by the faculty, staff, administration, and students through the Culture of Caring. I believe wholeheartedly in Frontier’s mission and am excited to carry it forward.”

    In October 2024, Frontier Nursing University initiated a comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning process designed to advance its mission and vision in innovative and impactful ways. The five-year plan will optimize the success of students, faculty, and staff, and invites the FNU community to envision and shape a bold and transformative “Next Frontier.” Learn more about the strategic plan here.

    Dr. Flinders obtained her Associate Degree of Science in Nursing (1994) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2003) degrees from Miami University in Ohio. She has significant clinical and academic experience, including community-based nursing care, labor and delivery nursing, full-scope practice as a Certified Nurse-Midwife, and 19 years of experience as a college educator and administrator.

    “Healthcare deserts, provider shortages, and a maternal mortality crisis continue to plague our country,” Dr. Flinders said. “Frontier has a long history of finding unique solutions to complex problems, and we will continue to lead the way in preparing nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who have answered the call to serve.”

    During her academic career, Dr. Flinders served as chair of the department of nursing, associate dean of academic affairs, and associate provost of faculty affairs at Miami University. In 2021, she received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award from their department of nursing and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

    Dr. Flinders attributes much of the growth in her career to participating in Faculty Learning Communities (FLC), invented by Dr. Milton D. Cox at Miami University in 1979. Inspired by her own transformational experience, FNU is proud to establish its own Faculty Learning Communities fund in honor of Dr. Flinders. Please join us in honoring Dr. Brooke Flinders’ vision and commitment in providing innovative resources for teaching excellence, scholarly engagement, and leadership development by making a contribution to the Faculty Learning Communities Fund. Learn more here. 

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