Dr. Deb Hopla, DNP, APRN, BC, FAAN, FAANP

For more than twelve years, Dr. Hopla has held the positions of Professor and Director of the MSN/FNP and DNP tracks at Francis Marion University. In addition to her academic roles, she actively maintains her role as a family nurse practitioner (FNP), dedicating one day a week to practice at Hope Health, a federally qualified healthcare center in Florence, South Carolina (SC).

Dr. Hopla is distinguished as a Fellow in both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing. She received the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Health Policy Award for her legislative efforts aimed at enhancing patient care access and eliminating barriers to NP practice. In 2023, she earned the State AANP advocacy award for South Carolina.

Continuing her commitment to healthcare advocacy, Dr. Hopla serves as a board member for the Coalition for Access to Healthcare (CAHC) and the Coalition for Access to Primary Care (CIAPC). She holds the esteemed position of Co-Chair for the Robert Woods Johnson and AARP Campaign for Action, focusing on nursing initiatives in South Carolina.

Dr. Hopla's impact extends to the realm of research, where she has secured over $5 million in grant funding. With a substantial scholarly presence, she has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed articles and delivered over 30 presentations as an invited speaker.

Beyond her academic and clinical roles, Dr. Hopla has served as the President of the SC Nurses Foundation (SCNF), an organization dedicated to awarding scholarships to nursing students in South Carolina. Further contributing to nursing education, she serves as the Graduate Representative on the South Carolina State Board of Nursing Advisory Committee for Nursing Education (ACONE) and has been reappointed as Chair of the ACONE Committee.

As a recipient of the SCNF's Palmetto Gold Award, she is recognized as one of the top 100 nurses in South Carolina.