The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and Nurses (NAPNAP/N), as originally named, was established in 1973 and was the first national organization, specifically for nurse practitioners. The Maryland Chesapeake Chapter began in 1979, organized by Claire Marie Rodgers, who was the contact between National NAPNAP and MD members and also served as the first chapter president. Twenty-five pediatric nurse practitioners (PNP) were the first charter members of the chapter, which was approved by NAPNAP at the national level on February 16, 1981. Originally MD NAPNAP members included PNPs from MD, Virginia, Washington DC and West Virginia. In April of 1981, the initial chapter conference was held, with 47 PNPs in attendance. This conference was the first of many bi-annual meetings attended by increasing numbers of local PNPs. In addition to education, the MD NAPNAP members previously and currently support local charities who provide services for or are associated with children. MD members are also supported financially to attend the national NAPNAP conference and the annual “Nurse in Washington Internship program,” or other advocacy focused training. This chapter has continued to recruit members, currently representing mostly PNPs from MD and Washington DC and bordering state lines of Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Chesapeake watershed territory and tributaries, therefore the name, ‘Chesapeake’ Chapter. The chapter and has won the national award for member recruitment in the “Large Chapter” category multiple times. 

MD NAPNAP has invested in advocacy for children and for PNP practice from early in their existence. In 2005, the MD chapter worked with the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland to have NPs listed as primary care providers on Health Maintenance Organizations and in 2015, with the leadership of Gina Friel, legislative chair at that time, Maryland NPs were awarded independent practice in the state. The chapter has been invested in supporting member research. Yetta Semiatin, a charter member, donated 1000.00 in the name of her brother, Louis Dobkin to award research grants to chapter members in 1990. These funds were invested, the value has increased and the money continues to be available to MD members. 

MD chapter members have also become leaders within the national organization. 

Joan Greene and Arlene Butz, early members and chapter presidents, served on the editorial board of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care. Maryland has also hosted members who went on to become Presidents of NAPNAP at the national level. These PNPs include: Virginia Millonig, Barbara Dunn, Richard Ricciardi and Cathy Haut. MD NAPNAP members continue to serve locally and nationally on many volunteer initiatives.