Dr. Tari Dilks
November 2021
Tari
Dilks
,
PMHN-BC, FAANP
McNeese State University Graduate Program
Lake Charles Memorial Health System
Lake Charles
,
LA
United States
Dr. Dilks is a sought-after presenter on mental health topics both within Louisiana and nationally.
Dr. Dilks' leadership in developing, leading, and teaching in the first psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) program in Louisiana will help improve mental health care for the citizens of Louisiana by increasing the numbers of providers able to care for this population. The PMHNP program in the Intercollegiate Consortium for an MSN (ICMSN) of which McNeese State University is a member has produced approximately 100 PMHNPs since the program began in 2006. Of these new nurse practitioners, approximately 60 are new MSN-prepared PMHNPs and 40 are nurse practitioners who completed a postmaster's certificate giving them dual certification as nurse practitioners; Dr. Dilks has taught them all. Currently, Dr. Dilks is leading the implementation of the Doctorate in Nursing Practice program new to McNeese this semester which is a Post Masters program designed to provide added certification in Psychiatric Mental Health for nurse practitioners credentialed in other populations.
Dr. Dilks'efforts in nursing education are but one of her many professional accomplishments that merit this award. ln addition, she has taken an active role in professional nursing organizations both within Louisiana and nationally. Dr. Dilks has served in multiple roles in the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners (LANP), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP); and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) where she is the current national past president. Locally, she serves on the Lake Charles Mental Health Court Advisory Board and provides Crises Prevention Training several times a year to local law enforcement academies.
Dr. Dilks is a sought-after presenter on mental health topics both within Louisiana and nationally. ln the last several years she has spoken at the New York State Office of Mental Health Annual Conference, NPACE, AANP Annual Conference, AWHON Conference, LANP Annual Conference, and SWPA Annual Conference on a wide range of topics such as the use of antipsychotics in primary care, common psychiatric issues in children and adolescents, managing the suicidal client in primary care, and sexuality and psychotropics. Dr. Dilks is truly a Living Legend in Southwest Louisiana.
Dr. Dilks'efforts in nursing education are but one of her many professional accomplishments that merit this award. ln addition, she has taken an active role in professional nursing organizations both within Louisiana and nationally. Dr. Dilks has served in multiple roles in the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners (LANP), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP); and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) where she is the current national past president. Locally, she serves on the Lake Charles Mental Health Court Advisory Board and provides Crises Prevention Training several times a year to local law enforcement academies.
Dr. Dilks is a sought-after presenter on mental health topics both within Louisiana and nationally. ln the last several years she has spoken at the New York State Office of Mental Health Annual Conference, NPACE, AANP Annual Conference, AWHON Conference, LANP Annual Conference, and SWPA Annual Conference on a wide range of topics such as the use of antipsychotics in primary care, common psychiatric issues in children and adolescents, managing the suicidal client in primary care, and sexuality and psychotropics. Dr. Dilks is truly a Living Legend in Southwest Louisiana.