The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Nurse Practitioner Karion Waites, DNP, MSN, BC-FNP, RN, CRRN was honored for her outstanding service as an Advanced Practice Provider (APP).

Waites received the UAB APP Champion Award, which celebrates individuals whose work embodies the institution's core values and makes a significant impact. Waites plays an integral role working with patients at UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized among fellow peers and other colleagues in an organization like the UAB Health System. This achievement would not have been possible without the support of the amazing of team of individuals at Spain Rehabilitation Center. Success is not achieved independently; it takes a village. My workplace village is the Dept. of PM&R. I am grateful to be a part of a team that strives for excellence, which in turn makes its members settle for nothing less than excellence,” Waites stated.

The award selection committee received more than 50 nominations for APPs who demonstrate a commitment to UAB’s standards of excellence each day. Of those submissions, 10 individuals were selected to receive this prestigious award.

“Karion has been an integral part of UAB for the past 30 years. Throughout her tenure, she has embodied UAB’s core values with every interaction, consistently demonstrating dedication to patient care and leadership within our department. Her commitment to excellence makes her highly deserving of the APP Champion Award, and we are incredibly proud of her remarkable achievements,” Robert Brunner, M.D., Spain Rehabilitation Center Medical Director.