2023 NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence The NP/PA Award for Clinical Excellence recognizes a distinguished nurse practitioner or physician assistant who is an ACG APP Member and has shown long-standing contributions to advancing clinical practice in the field of gastroenterology (GI) and hepatology. These efforts are demonstrated by the awardee’s substantial contributions in GI in the areas of practice expertise, leadership, mentoring, and collaborative activities that have an impact at the state, regional, national or international level. In 2023, this award is being given to the following two individuals.
Terasa M. Astarita, MS, APRN, ANP-BC, BCPA Terasa M. Astarita, MS, APRN, ANP-BC, BCPA, is helping to transform digestive care experiences and outcomes for the millions of Americans who struggle with GI disorders. Her impact is significant through her daily work with individual patients, in scaling access to evidence-based care via telehealth delivery, and in shaping the role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in collaborative clinical workforces. Ms. Astarita is a nurse practitioner nationally certified by the ANCC with over 20 years’ experience as an Advanced Practice Provider in gastroenterology and hepatology. As a founding member of the Oshi Health clinical team, she shaped the pivotal role that nurse practitioners and APPs play in Oshi’s care delivery as the quarterback of an integrated, collaborative care team. Oshi Health provides high-quality research-based GI care virtually in a revolutionary care delivery organization where patients have access to a specialized team of clinicians delivering care, including often overlooked dietary and behavioral health interventions that are proven to improve outcomes in GI. As Oshi’s clinical team grows to deliver care nationwide, Ms. Astarita models clinical excellence in the areas of intake, diagnosis, and care plan development and coordination. She serves as a leader and mentor to other APPs and all members of the Oshi Health care delivery team. As an extension of her clinical expertise, Ms. Astarita is a board-certified health advocate and a committed caregiver to her motherin-law. She is also a RYT© 500 (Registered Yoga Teacher), and passionate about helping to create a healthier community through wellness initiatives and making yoga more accessible within her community. Ms. Astarita is a dedicated advocate for advancing GI care and healthcare more broadly and an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology as well as the American Gastroenterological Association, staying at the forefront of best practices and groundbreaking research in gastroenterology.
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