AONL/UCSF APP Fellowship Faculty Spotlight: Dawn Mutchko

What inspired you to become a faculty member for the APP Strategic Leadership Fellowship?

My inspiration to serve as faculty for the APP Strategic Leadership Fellowship comes from a pivotal moment in my own leadership journey: learning to balance advocacy at the system level with mentorship at the individual level. That experience showed me that true leadership is about more than driving outcomes, it is about creating structures that allow others to thrive.

By equipping APPs with both the strategic vision to influence systems and the practical tools to navigate daily challenges, I hope to multiply impact far beyond my own roles as a nurse practitioner, leader, and educator. This fellowship offers the chance to share those lessons, foster innovation, and help emerging leaders build the confidence and clarity to shape their own legacy.

What makes this program stand out in the value it provides for APPs?

The APP Strategic Leadership Fellowship is more than a leadership course, it is a launchpad for advanced practice providers ready to step into executive influence. Fellows do not just study leadership theory; they design and implement a real‑world change initiative within their own organization, delivering measurable outcomes and a clear return on investment for both them and their sponsors.

Over 13 weeks, participants will build the financial, operational, and strategic acumen needed to lead at the highest levels of healthcare. Guided by nationally recognized competency frameworks and supported through personalized assessments and one‑on‑one executive coaching, fellows gain the tools and confidence to drive system‑level change. Blending in‑person and virtual sessions, the program fosters a powerful peer network while accommodating the demands of busy leaders. By the end, fellows leave not only with a completed project and leadership portfolio, but also with a sharpened vision of their career trajectory and the legacy they want to create.

What has been a meaningful experience in your own leadership journey that shapes how you teach or mentor APPs?

One of the most meaningful experiences in my leadership journey was stepping into a role where I had to advocate for APPs at the system level while also supporting them individually. Balancing those two perspectives, strategic advocacy and personal mentorship, taught me that leadership is not just about driving outcomes, but about creating structures that allow others to thrive.

I learned that when APPs feel seen, supported, and equipped with transparent tools, whether that’s a rubric, a framework, or a clear pathway, they not only succeed personally but also elevate the teams and patients they serve. That experience shaped how I mentor today: I focus on giving APPs both the strategic vision to influence systems and the practical resources to navigate daily challenges. It is why I emphasize clarity, transparency, fairness, and empowerment in my teaching. I want APPs to leave not only with new skills, but with the confidence that they can lead change, measure impact, and build a legacy of their own.