ACOG Congratulates Capt. Suzanne Marie England, Recipient of the 2020 Haffner Award

Captain Suzanne Marie England, DNP, MSN, BSN, CNM. CFNP, PMHNP, RN is the 2020 recipient of the prestigious ACOG Outstanding AI/AN Women’s Healthcare Clinician Award, also known as the William H.J. Haffner AI/AN Women’s Health Award.  

On behalf of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the College Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Women’s Health is extremely pleased to announce that Capt. Suzanne England, DNP, CNM, is the 2020 recipient of the award for her career-long commitment to the highest standards of clinical care for American Indian and Alaska Native Women.  It is expected that the award will be presented to her in a ceremony at the 2020 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting..  

Dr. England has distinguished herself throughout her entire career in the Indian Health Service (IHS), starting as a COSTEP at the Acoma Indian Hospital, NM, in 1991 and through her subsequent assignments as Junior Staff Nurse at the Gallup Indian Medical Center, NM, , Nurse Officer at the Blackfeet Indian Hospital, MT, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Pine Ridge Indian Hospital, Advanced Practice Nurse at the Wanblee Health Center, SD, , and Nurse Consultant for the Great Plains Area IHS, Aberdeen, SD, since 2015. 

In her senior consultant roles in the Great Plains Area, she has had a significant regional and national impact on the assurance of the highest possible quality of care for women as a practicing clinician and as a leader and manager of highly complex health care systems. She is a tireless advocate for her patients and for all of the health care providers in the Area, whether in the promotion and advancement of standards of clinical care,  assuring optimal recruitment of clinicians for the Area, or collaborating with national professional organizations to positively influence the best standards of care from both within and outside the IHS system. 

In the letter of nomination received on her behalf for this award, it was noted that she “did an outstanding job preparing for and organizing the ACOG site visits to the Great Plains Area these past two years. It was obvious on our second trip back in 2018 that much progress had been made which was in large part due to Dr. England’s efforts.”

With her superb background, professional temperament, and commitment to quality in clinical care, skilled leadership in a complex organization, and long-standing dedication to promoting and advancing the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native women, Capt. England has clearly earned the distinction of being the 2020 recipient of this prestigious award.

Previous recipients of the Haffner AI/AN Women’s Health Award include:

• 2019 CDR Rachel Locker, MD
• 2018 Glen Y. Kishi, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist
• 2017 Ursula Knoki-Wilson, Certified Nurse Midwife
• 2016 Amanda Leib, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist
• 2015 Marilyn Pierce-Bulger, Certified Nurse Midwife
• 2014 John S. Condojani, DO, Family Practitioner
• 2013 Ann Glasheen, Family Nurse Practitioner
• 2012 Judith Thierry, DO, Pediatrician
• 2011 Nigel Wappett, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist

Nominations for recipients of this annual ACOG award for 2021 will be solicited throughout the Indian Health system in several months. For more information on nominating criteria, please see the American Indian and Alaska Native Women's Health program page.