Dr. Aertker exemplifies career long entrepreneurial leadership and nursing advocacy. As a NP for over 36 years, Dr. Aertker has built three unique models of NP practice including the first NP in an integrated joint university faculty practice, developed four NP managed hospital-based occupational health clinics and for 23 years owned a thriving Occupational Health practice in Tampa, Florida. Since 1985, she has been a dedicated volunteer at a free clinic in Tampa serving the medically indigent. Her clinical expertise is in worker safety, commercial driver examiner training, substance abuse programs and fitness for duty examinations. Jean lectures nationally occupational health topics as well as business ownership and health care advocacy. And retirement she continues to serve others at a free clinic in Tampa weekly and also join the staff at Moffitt team health on a PRN basis to provide wellness exams, work Comp care & primary health care for employees.
Dr. Aertker is one of the first 20 charter members of AANP in 1985 and served three terms as AANP Region 11 Director and a member of the AANP Executive Board as the Region Director Delegate from 2013 to 2019. Past contributions to AANP include two-terms as AANP State Representative, past chair of the FAANP selections committee, and FAANP History Committee charter member. In 2016, Jean was appointed as the board liaison to the FAANP until 2019. At the state level, she is a founding member of Florida Nurse Practitioners (FNPN) the largest NETWORK and oldest NP STATEWIDE NP organization. She has served as past president, legislative Vice President and very involved in NP advocacy efforts. In 2016, FNPN honored her with the creation of the Dr. Jean Aertker Health Policy Scholarship Award. As a continuing AANP & ANA member, she served as past chair for the Florida ARNP Task Force from 1991-1993 and joined the Florida APRN Coalition in 2007 as a charter member. NP peers validate their respect for her leadership and advocacy and widely recognize her as an expert clinician, political activist, entrepreneur, business owner, teacher, mentor and role model. Dr. Aertker recently sold her practice held over 22 years in August 2019 to take on a new challenge to serve as the first Executive Director of the Florida NP Network. Jeanne is also founder of social network called The NP Force, a moniker given to the group by nurse founder of the NP role, Dr. Loretta Ford, that serves a as a philanthropy and advocacy group to preserve our NP history and protect our future as nurse practitioners.