James LaVelle Dickens DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN
CAPT Dickens is a retired Commissioned Officer of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, whose mission is to promote, protect and advance the health and safety of the Nation. He currently serves in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS) Dallas in the Survey & Operations Group as the Director of Emergency Preparedness & Life Safety Code. Previously he served as the CMS Long Term Care Branch Manager for the Dallas location covering five states. Prior, he served in the Office of the U.S. Secretary for Health as the Senior Program Manager for the Office of Minority Health for HHS Region VI. He is an experienced Registered Nurse and Board-Certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. James’ clinical experiences include Orthopedics, Emergency Department, Surgical Services, Long-Term Care, emergency response, global health, and the Primary Care setting. He previously served as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Region 6 Director for Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
He also served as the Officer in Charge of the Commissioned Corps Ebola Response, Team 2 (76- member inter-professional team) serving at the Monrovia Medical Unit (MMU) Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia, Liberia-West Africa, leading all local MMU clinical response efforts. Dickens has received numerous Nursing leadership and Uniformed Service awards during his career.
He previously served as the Officer in Charge of the USPHS COVID-19 response, USPHS Operation Artemis response for unaccompanied children and USPHS Operation Condor. His medical deployments include participating as a clinical team member for the Afghanistan Health Initiative (AHI) in Kabul, Afghanistan. He also served as a technical advisor for a Commissioned Corps hospital Assistance Team in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as in St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
James is a Fellow in good standing with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). He has served as an AANP Regional Director and on numerous Committee’s for both organizations.
EDUCATION:
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
Master Science Nursing, Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Bachelor Science Nursing, Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Associate of Applied Sciences, Surgical Technology, University of the Air Force, Maxwell, AL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
2020 Fellow-American Academy of Nursing
2018 American Association of Nurse Practitioners, National Towers Pinnacle Award
2017 Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, Excellence in Clinical Care Award
2015 Meritorious Service Medal (second highest honor award in the USPHS) 2010 Fellow-American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)