It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our esteemed public board member, Barbara Safriet. Barbara was a steadfast advocate for nurses and nurse practitioners, dedicating her career to advancing the profession through education, research, and regulatory reform.

Barbara's legacy is marked by her significant contributions to both academia and the health law community. She served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Lecturer in Law at Yale Law School from 1988 to 2007, and later as a Visiting Professor of Health Law at Lewis & Clark Law School. Her influential work began with her seminal 1993 Yale Law Journal paper, Health Care Dollars and Regulatory Sense: The Role of Advanced Practice Nursing, which ignited the current dialogue on the economic and quality value of advanced practice nursing.

In recognition of her tireless advocacy, Barbara was honored as an honorary fellow for both FAAN and FAANP, and she became the inaugural Honorary Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Her continued efforts-including her contributions to the groundbreaking IOM report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health-played a critical role in advancing nurse practitioners as recognized providers under the Affordable Care Act.

Barbara was not only a respected scholar and legal expert but also a dear friend to many. Her profound commitment to removing regulatory barriers and supporting NP practice and reimbursement has left an indelible mark on our profession.

She will be greatly missed, and her legacy will continue to inspire and guide our work in the field. Please join us in honoring Barbara Safriet's memory and celebrating her lasting contributions to our community.