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Edge Runners Application
Edge Runners Application 

2025 Edge Runners Application

The American Academy of Nursing's (Academy) Edge Runners initiative recognizes nurse-designed models of care that reduce cost, improve health care quality, advance health equity, and enhance consumer satisfaction. Through its Edge Runners program, the Academy recognizes new and innovative ideas that transform health and underscore the leadership, ingenuity, and determination of nurses. Edge Runner models demonstrate significant clinical, financial, community, and policy outcomes that are sustained and replicated.

Edge Runner Models elevate nurse-led innovation and are often cited the by the Academy as exemplars to develop sound policy solutions. Because Edge Runners not only improve health, they are a catalyst for widespread change.

The 2025 application closed on March 20, 2025.

Please be sure to review and fulfill all of the requirements located under the Edge Runners Application Submission Requirements tab below. Incomplete applications and applications that fail to pay the submission fee will not be reviewed. Decision notifications will be sent in May. 

Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing is not required to have one's model reviewed by the Edge Runners National Advisory Council or designated as an Edge Runner.

Please contact the Academy's Chief Advancement Officer, Lauren Inouye, at LInouye@AANnet.org with any questions.

View All Edge Runner Models

Submission Requirements:

  • You must complete all sections of the application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  • Uploading supporting documents is optional. You may upload up to three supporting documents (collectively no more than 5 pages in total) through question 20 in the application. Please submit as a PDF and combine all supporting documents into one before uploading. Supporting documents submitted after the application deadline will not be reviewed.
  • Completion of the one-time, non-refundable submission fee of $200 per model. Electronic payments must be made at the time the application is submitted. If paying by check, it must be postmarked prior to the submission deadline. A link to payment can be found in the application.

Note: The American Academy of Nursing prohibits the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in preparing application responses as it violates the Academy's value of integrity. 

  • Applicants will be notified whether or not their model has been selected in May.
  • Models that are selected as Edge Runners will be featured at the American Academy of Nursing's 2025 Health Policy Conference from October 16-18, 2025 in Washington, DC at the Marriott Marquis hotel. Only the primary representative of an Edge Runner (i.e., the individual who submitted the application) will be invited on stage to accept the award. 
  • Please note that the model, not the primary representative, is recognized as an Edge Runner.

If you have any questions, please contact the the Academy's Chief Advancement Officer, Lauren Inouye, at LInouye@AANnet.org with any questions. Please include in the subject line of your email, "2025 Edge Runners Application."