Clinical-Academic Network for Developing Leaders (CANDL)

The purpose of the Clinical-Academic Network for Developing Leaders (CANDL) program is to form innovative academic-practice partnerships.  Through the grant, advanced practice nursing students in the family practice program will be prepared to integrate academic and clinical learning and provide quality, culturally-inclusive care for rural and underserved populations.

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) CANDL program addresses the ANEW purpose of forming innovative academic practice partnerships to prepare practice-ready primary care FNPs via longitudinal primary care clinical experiences.  

Within rural and urban areas, chronic conditions frequently associated with the social determinants of health are widespread and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups.

The project aligns with regional needs and HRSA priorities by establishing and evaluating an innovative academic-practice partnership model that will improve practice-readiness for FNP students.

The partnership will facilitate a feedback loop for integration and ongoing improvements of didactic and clinical learning and build capacity to recruit, prepare, and retain excellent preceptors--with the goal of graduating FNPs who are practice-ready for primary-care settings serving rural and underserved populations.