Visiting Physician’s Nurse Practitioner Evelyn Akanbi Honored as 2025 House Call Clinician of the Year

Last month, Evelyn Akanbi, DNP, APN-C, a Visiting Physician Services nurse practitioner, was named the 2025 House Call Clinician of the Year by the American Academy of Home Care Medicine (AAHCM). Presented with the award at the AAHCM Annual Meeting in New Orleans, she was recognized for her significant contributions to the delivery and quality of patient care, as well as exemplifying the compassion and excellence that define home-based medicine.

The House Call Clinician of the Year Award celebrates the vital role clinicians play in home care medicine, honoring individuals who consistently go above and beyond to ensure patients receive personalized care in the comfort of their own homes. For Dr. Akanbi, the recognition also reflects the mission of Visiting Physician Services (VPS), a practice dedicated to providing primary care to homebound patients with dignity, respect, and compassion. Through VPS, clinicians like Evelyn deliver medical care in the patient’s home, helping them remain independent and connected to the providers who know them best.

For Evelyn, the recognition came as an unexpected but exciting milestone. “Personally, it’s like a Hallmark achievement,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’ve just been doing my job, taking care of patients, and didn’t realize people were noticing in such a good way.”

Originally from Nigeria, she began her professional journey working as a secretary before following her true calling in healthcare. After immigrating to the United States in her early thirties, she earned her GED, then went on to complete her nursing training, followed by her bachelor’s, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. She began her nursing career in open-heart surgery and spent a decade in hospital cardiac care before deciding to serve patients in a more personal way. 

Today, Evelyn provides primary care to homebound patients through Visiting Physician Services, bringing warmth and comfort to her patients. Many of her patients are elderly, and she treats each one as if they were her own parents. “When I see a patient, I see my parents,” she explained. “I call them Mama or Papi. I know we all get old someday, and I want them to be cared for with respect and love.”

Over the 17 years with VPS, her relationships with patients and their families have grown personal. She’s celebrated milestones, attended funerals, and provided emotional support throughout her encounters. “You become part of their family,” she said.

Evelyn is also active in her church’s health ministry, where she helps organize blood pressure and glucose screenings, educational sessions on managing chronic conditions, and presentations on preventative care. “Prevention is better than a cure. If people have the knowledge, they can take better care of themselves,” she said.

When asked what messages she would share with other clinicians, she emphasized the importance of empathy and purpose. “You must have the love to take care of people. If you’re in it just for money, you won’t last long. What keeps you going is knowing you’re making a difference,” she said. 

Evelyn’s recognition as the 2025 House Call Clinician of the Year reflects both her compassion and dedication to caring for patients in their own homes, where they feel most at ease. Every visit she makes fulfills the mission of Visiting Physician Services: to deliver high-quality, personalized care and help patients live comfortably at home.

About Visiting Physician Services

Visiting Physician Services (VPS), part of the Parker Advanced Care Institute at VNA Health Group, is a home-based primary care practice that has been making house calls to older adults and homebound patients for more than 30 years. With a dedicated team of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, RNs, LPNs, and a social worker, VPS provides comprehensive care for chronic and acute conditions as well as in-home diagnostic testing, medication management, wound care, and more. Today, house calls remain one of the safest and most convenient ways to receive medical care, offering patients comfort and peace of mind for their families. Visiting Physician Services accepts Medicare, Horizon, Braven, Aetna, WellPoint, and WellCare. For more information about Visiting Physician Services, please call 732-571-1000, email info@visiting-physician.com, or visit vnahg.org/vps.