Miki Miura and Mya Yee Nandar, both graduates of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, have received the State Award for Excellence from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). This award is given yearly to one nurse practitioner in each state for their contributions to nursing.
Miura, who graduated in 2019 with a nursing doctorate, received the award for Hawaiʻi. She works at several clinics, including the Waiʻanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, focusing on women’s health. Miura moved to the U.S. from Japan when she was 25 to become a nurse practitioner.
Nandar, a 2016 nursing graduate, won the award for Illinois. She works in mental healthcare at a clinic in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Nandar is recognized for her work with underserved populations, aiming to improve care through respect and dignity.
The AANP State Award for Excellence recognizes nurse practitioners for their clinical practice and efforts to raise the profile of nurse practitioners at the state level.
Miura and Nandar’s awards underscore the quality of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s nursing program and the impact its graduates have on healthcare nationwide.