2026 Annual Conference
Igniting Community &
Driving Innovation
October 15 -18, 2026
Detroit, MI
Honoring excellence
Celebrating Legacy.
The DNPs of Color Annual Conference is proud to recognize the nurses, scholars, leaders, and advocates who are transforming the future of doctoral nursing practice. Our awards and scholarships celebrate the extraordinary individuals who embody the mission of DNPs of Color — to inspire, empower, and transform nursing through diversity, equity, and collective action. Nominations and scholarship applications are open now through July 1, 2026.
DOCs Awards
2026 Conference Awards
The DNPs of Color Awards Program honors individuals whose work, leadership, and scholarship are advancing diversity, equity, and excellence in nursing. Awards are presented at the Allen-Mahoney Gala on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
McCamey-DeWitty Founders Lifetime Achievement & Distinguished Service Award
This award is made in recognition of significant lifetime achievements, DNPs of Color highest honor, given to those individuals who, during the years, have given their time and talents in such a way as to contribute significantly to nursing, increasing diversity/antiracism in nursing practice, and exemplary scholarship. Awardees exemplified the standards of professional integrity and conduct, have achieved stature in their profession or academic pursuits, hold the esteem of colleagues and peers, and have worked to further the mission DNPs of Color.
DNP preferred.
Dr. Kechi Iheduru-Anderson Scholar Award
This award recognizes extraordinary excellence in research or EBP/QI. Work should increase knowledge on a topic/issue, aiming to improve and/or transform health, clinical practice, education, leadership, research, and/or public knowledge.
Outstanding Faculty Award
Recognizes a nursing faculty member who leads in the promotion and implementation of innovation in teaching/learning approaches in nursing education demonstrates excellence and innovation in teaching/learning approaches. Promotes antiracism in nursing.
Outstanding Clinician Award
Recognizes a clinician who demonstrates equity minded, high quality, patient centered care, effective communication, interdisciplinary team work. Promotes antiracism in nursing.
Outstanding Mentor Award
Recognizes outstanding faculty member or nursing professional. The award is established to recognize the value of quality mentoring relationships between mentor and mentee and/or mentoring programs especially those for undergraduate or graduate students and/or for particularly for doctoral scholars.
Emerging Leader Award
Recognizes newer members who have already in a relatively short amount of time, demonstrated leadership and exemplary volunteerism and made significant contributions to DNPs of Color and/or to the profession and have demonstrated the potential for leadership and continuing service.
DNPs of Color Advancing Health Equity Award
Recognizes excellence and transformative advancements in health equity. DOCs Health Equity Award recognizes individuals who are leveraging engagement to improve health outcomes for those most impacted by health disparities and inequities.
Legacy of Justice & Human Flourishing Award
The Legacy of Justice & Human Flourishing Award honors individuals who advance dignity, justice, and well-being in ways that create lasting impact. It recognizes leaders who challenge inequities, protect human rights, and drive meaningful change so that communities everywhere have the chance to thrive.
Award Criteria
Recipients of the Legacy of Justice & Human Flourishing Award:
- Affirm Human Dignity: Uphold the inherent worth of every person and actively challenge systems, structures, and practices that diminish or deny that dignity.
- Advance Justice and Equity: Work persistently to remove barriers to fairness and opportunity, centering communities whose voices and needs have too often been overlooked or silenced.
- Promote Collective Well-Being: Lead initiatives and actions that protect health, safety, and well-being as universal rights, creating pathways for individuals and communities to flourish.
- Lead with Courage and Integrity: Demonstrate the moral courage to confront injustice and the integrity to remain accountable to principles of fairness, equity, and compassion.
- Build Bridges of Solidarity: Cultivate collaboration across communities, movements, and disciplines, recognizing that enduring change is achieved through shared responsibility and collective action.
- Drive Transformative Change: Champion bold solutions that move beyond incremental progress, reshaping conditions and systems to advance long-term equity and human flourishing.
- Uplift Global Interdependence: Affirm that justice and flourishing extend beyond borders, connecting human rights, environmental stewardship, and global solidarity as essential to a just future.
Dr. Virginia Allen & The Black Angels Humanitarian Award
A prestigious accolade established to recognize and honor nursing professionals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and commitment to humanitarian efforts. This award celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the health and well-being of underserved communities, particularly those facing systemic disparities and inequities. Through their leadership, advocacy, and innovative initiatives embody the principles of compassion, equity, and social justice, serving as inspirational role models for future generations of healthcare professionals.
- Dedication to Social Justice and Advocacy: The nominee must have a history of actively working to improve health equity for underserved communities. This could include work focused on a specific population (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants) or a specific health issue (e.g., access to mental healthcare, maternal health disparities, chronic disease management in underserved communities).
- Clinical Excellence: The nominee should demonstrate a high standard of clinical practice, with a focus on providing culturally competent care to diverse populations.
- Leadership: The nominee should be a leader in their field, who inspires and mentors other healthcare professionals, particularly DNPs of Color. This leadership could be demonstrated through mentorship programs, participation in professional organizations focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in healthcare, or community leadership initiatives.
- Community Engagement: The nominee should be actively engaged in promoting health and wellness within the communities they serve. This could involve volunteering in community clinics, developing health education programs, or advocating for policies that address social determinants of health.
- Commitment to Mentorship: The nominee should be committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals, particularly DNPs of Color. This mentorship could take place formally through established programs or informally.
DOC DAISY Awards
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation that honors the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care nurses provide every day. DAISY Award recipients are celebrated for going above and beyond in their commitment to patients, families, and the nursing profession, making a remarkable difference in the lives of those they serve.
DOC DAISY Nurse Leader Award
This award recognizes outstanding leadership in nursing that creates an environment of care which truly makes a difference in the lives of staff, patients, and their families. Recipients demonstrate compassionate leadership that inspires and elevates the entire healthcare team through exemplary clinical excellence and dedication to fostering a culture of exceptional care.
DOC DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
This award celebrates nurses who make meaningful contributions to health equity and provide compassionate, quality care for vulnerable patients, families, and communities. Recipients are dedicated to reducing health disparities and ensuring that all patients receive equitable, compassionate care regardless of their circumstances. This honor recognizes nurses who advocate for justice in healthcare delivery and work tirelessly to serve those who need it most.
Conference Scholarships
The DNPs of Color Annual Conference Scholarship Program is designed to ensure that every dedicated nursing professional — regardless of financial circumstances — has the opportunity to be part of this transformative experience. Three scholarship types are available for the 2026 Annual Conference. Applications are due July 1, 2026.
Individuals may only apply for one scholarship. Scholarships are non-transferrable.
Conference Registration Scholarship
This scholarship is designed for nursing professionals who do not have the financial resources to register for the conference. Awards are limited and available to those who can demonstrate financial need. Individuals experiencing undue hardship are especially encouraged to apply.
Recipients are required to:
- Promote the conference through their networks and social media platforms (all promotional activity must be documented)
- Participate in pre, during, and post-conference promotions including video messaging, photos, testimonials, and social media content
- Invite colleagues and networks to register and attend the DOCs Conference
Gala Professional Development Scholarship
Award: $1,000
This scholarship is available to nursing professionals who demonstrate a commitment to professional development — currently in school or actively contributing to nursing practice — and who uphold the mission of DNPs of Color.
Recipients are required to:
- Promote the conference through their networks and social media platforms (all promotional activity must be documented)
- Participate in pre, during, and post-conference promotions including video messaging, photos, testimonials, and social media content
- Invite colleagues and networks to register and attend the DOCs Conference
Lifestyle Medicine Provider Bundle Scholarship
Sponsored by Eden Health Restored
The Lifestyle Medicine Starter Bundle scholarship includes the Reversing Diabetes Course and a one-year membership with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine — a comprehensive professional development package for nurses committed to lifestyle medicine practice.
Recipients are required to:
- Promote the conference through their networks and social media platforms (all promotional activity must be documented)
- Participate in pre, during, and post-conference promotions including video messaging, photos, testimonials, and social media content
- Invite colleagues and networks to register and attend the DOCs Conference
Honor Excellence. Nominate Today.
Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026
Don't wait — nominate someone who is making a difference.