T. Rae Dismuke was the executive director on the Georgia Maternal and Infant Council and acted as a liaison with the Georgia Department of Public Health, Medicaid, and state government. She was instrumental implementing programs to improve the health of mothers and infants in the state of Georgia. Every year, GPA awards the T. Rae Dismuke Award to a GPA member that has gone above and beyond in the mission of promoting and improving the health of mothers and infants.

Guidelines for nominations for T. Rae Dismuke Award are the following:

Past awardees have been the following:

The T. Rae Dismuke Award is presented each year to a GPA member who exemplifies the work, mission, and values of Georgia Perinatal Association. As we celebrate GPA’s 40th anniversary and 31st annual conference it must be acknowledged that GPA is nothing without its members, the work you do, and the lives you touch. The 2018 recipient is Dina Herren, our immediate past-president.

Dina Herren graduated from University of North Florida in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Walden University in 2014 with a Master of Science and specialty with Family Nurse Practitioner.

Dina lives in Nashville, Georgia with her husband James and her 2 children, Josie and Cole. Dina has a twin sister, Gina Christopher, who is also a nurse practitioner. Gina and Dina received their BSN together and pursued their nurse practitioner degrees separately. Together has attended the Twins Day Festival for over 15 years. Dina enjoys spending time with her family, the beach, and reading.

Dina became credentialed and a member in 2015 with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She obtained her International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) October 2015. Dina worked for 15 years as a Registered Nurse in Labor and Delivery, Newborn Nursery, and Perinatal Home Health. She worked for 8 years as the Women and Children’s Nurse Educator at Tift Regional Medical Center. In addition, she is an ACLS, ACLS-OB, BLS, & PALS instructor. Currently, Dina is president of GPA and has served on the GPA board since 2007, most recently as President in 2018. Dina is passionate about improving the health and outcomes of mothers and babies.