Meet Gabrielle P. Abelard, Nurse.org’s Nurse Leader of the Year!

Voted Nurse.org's 2024 Nurse Leader of the Year, Gabrielle P. Abelard, DNP, APRN- BC, FNAP, FAAN, Clinical Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director: Masters, at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Chief Executive Officer, and Clinical Director at Abelard Psychotherapy Mental Health Clinic, has a long resume and list of accolades and accomplishments. 

However, she shares that her journey to working in the mental health field started simply: With a tube of red lipstick.

Seeing Red

In a storytelling project on YouTube, Dr. Abelard described an experience she had while still in nursing school. As a nursing student, she sat with a patient who was dying of terminal breast cancer to listen and talk with her. The patient was known as "Red" because, despite having lost her hair to cancer treatments, approaching death, and being very frail, she always wore red lipstick.

In talking with her, Dr. Abelard learned that the patient was silently suffering from depression and used her red lipstick as a coping mechanism because she had no one to turn to about how she was feeling. In that moment, and with Red’s passing shortly after, Abelard realized how vital mental health is in all facets of the health journey and decided to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner to dedicate her life to what is often hidden in the medical world. 

Today, Dr. Abelard has done exactly that, founding and directing Abelard Psychotherapy, Inc. Her practice is a multi-site community mental health clinic that serves diverse clients throughout Massachusetts, providing comprehensive and accessible behavioral health services. She also works as a Clinical Associate Professor at her alma mater, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she directs the graduate program for master's degrees, certificates, and psychiatric mental health at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. 

Her leadership follows her into her many associations, including: 

• Past President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) New England Chapter 
• First Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Massachusetts Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Association (MAAPPN)
• Part of the Board of Directors for the New England Regional Black Nurses Association (NERBNA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA)

Unsurprisingly, Dr. Abelard has also received several prestigious accolades: 

• New England Regional Black Nurses Excellence in Nursing Practice 2025
• International Society of Psychiatric Nurses Melva Jo Hendrix Lectureship Award 2025
• National Black Nurses Association Nurse Practitioner of the Year 2022
• Massachusetts Nurses Association Manning Mentoring Award 2022
• STRIDE and ADVANCE Faculty Fellow Awards at UMASS Amherst 2021
• APNA New England Nancy Valentine Excellence in Leadership Award 2020
• Young Haitian Professional of the Year 2019 by the US Haitian Chamber of Commerce
• Recognized as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

Adding to her long list of accolades, Dr. Abelard was named the Nurse Leader of the Year in Nurse.org’s 2024 Best of Nursing Awards. This award recognizes her over 20-year career in mental health nursing as a dedicated mentor, published author, mental health clinician, and educator. 

She is especially proud to have been recognized as a FAANP, a distinction achieved by only 1% of the 431,000 licensed NPs in the US.

"It's an incredible honor and a full-circle moment," notes Dr. Abelard. "Being recognized as a Fellow of AANP is both humbling and affirming—it validates my work to promote equity, build academic programs, and mentor future nurse practitioners. I'm excited to continue collaborating with other Fellows to lead transformative changes in NP practice nationwide."

Called to Serve

Dr. Abelard tells Nurse.org that she chose psychiatric mental health nursing because she believes that mental health is the "center" of overall well-being. "Early in my career, I saw firsthand the inequities in access and care," she explains. "That sparked a lifelong commitment to improving mental health services and destigmatizing mental illness, especially in communities of color."

She adds that she was inspired by a deep-rooted desire to serve and heal, particularly within marginalized communities. "Nursing gave me the opportunity to lead with compassion and advocate for vulnerable populations," Dr. Abelard noted. 

To her, being a nurse leader means empowering others, creating environments where people feel seen and supported, and inspiring innovation. "It's about transforming systems, lifting up the next generation, and holding space for change at the bedside, in the classroom, and in boardrooms," she says.

To make that actually happen, Dr. Abelard says she focuses on recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and clinicians, integrating inclusive learning environments, and expanding high-quality care in underserved communities. 

What does that look like on a day-to-day basis? According to Dr. Abelard, a typical day in her life includes strategic planning, mentoring students, leading curriculum development, and guiding an interdisciplinary clinical team that serves over 5,300 clients in 12 counties (No biggie, right?).

As tireless as she appears, she admits that a current ongoing challenge she is facing is encountering disparities in mental health access for diverse communities. Still, she isn't letting that challenge stop her. Instead, she explains, she is working to overcome those disparities through "persistent advocacy, creating fellowships, developing academic programs, and building a clinic model that integrates cultural and linguistic inclusivity into care delivery."

Leading Nurses into the Future

Dr. Abelard explains that her leadership is guided by intention and inclusivity, which has resulted in far-reaching ripple effects. From influencing healthcare policy and Medicaid reimbursement to shaping academic standards and practice models, as well as working as a mentor, educator, and clinical instructor, she knows that every action she takes directly impacts future nurses, underserved populations, and the national conversation around mental wellness.

With all she has accomplished, one could already call Dr. Abelard's career a well-served one. But she is only getting started. She tells Nurse.org that she has plans to expand her clinic model nationally, launch a consulting firm for health education and practice, publish work on trauma-informed leadership, and continue her advocacy work globally, all while supporting her children's and family's journeys as well. 

"These aspirations drive my work and shape my vision for the future of nursing," she says. 

Dr. Abelard hopes that by investing in future nurse leaders, advocating for equitable policies, and maintaining high standards in education and practice, she can be a conduit for others, especially those who feel unseen in healthcare spaces, to rise, lead, and innovate.

She has already been hard at work this year working toward those goals, such as recently chairing the 2025 International Society of Psychiatric Nurses (ISPN) Conference, which prioritized themes of innovation, cultural humility, and practitioner well-being. She will also be participating in the HERS Leadership Institute in Colorado this Summer, will be awarded the APNA Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award at the October 2025 Annual Conference in New Orleans, and will deliver the 2026 Melva Jo Hendrix Award Lecture at the 2026 ISPN Conference, so keep an eye out for her there if you'll be in attendance at any of the events. 

Last, but not least, as any good nurse leader would, Dr. Abelard hopes to encourage her fellow nurses and nurse practitioners to embrace their unique strengths as leaders in the world's most trusted profession. 

"Start where you are and trust your voice," she says. "Build your network, find mentors, and never let imposter syndrome silence your ideas. If you're passionate about change, align that passion with purpose—and lead boldly, even when it's hard."

Dr. Abelard adds that you don't have to look or lead like anyone else to be impactful: "Your story, your background, and your authenticity are your superpowers—lead with them unapologetically," she says. 

"We are in a pivotal time in healthcare, and nurses are at the forefront of change," she continues. "If you have a dream to improve care, start a clinic, or shape policy—know that it's possible. I'm here cheering you on, and I hope to meet you at the intersection of passion and purpose."

🤔What do you think of Dr. Abelard’s accomplishments in nurse leadership? Share your comments down below!