Dr. Michelle Acorn is Chief Executive Officer of the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario, representing more than 5,000 nurse practitioners across the province. A practicing nurse practitioner herself, she has built her leadership around empathy, integrity, and inclusivity, aiming to create an environment where team members feel valued and empowered.
Her career has focused on advancing the nurse practitioner profession and improving healthcare access for underserved populations, including rural and racialized communities. Under her leadership, NPAO has held meetings with more than 20 provincial legislators and secured significant media coverage in support of its advocacy goals.
Acorn continues to push for expanded scope-of-practice for nurse practitioners and more flexible funding models, work recognized through fellowships from the Canadian, American, and Irish nursing academies and several awards for nursing leadership and community health advocacy.
