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Latino Leadership Institute (LLI)
Develop the confidence to guide and inspire others! Current and future nursing leaders are invited to register for the Latino Leadership Institute (LLI), a full-day professional workshop hosted by NAHN on Tuesday, July 15, prior to the 50th Annual Conference in Dallas, TX. LLI is designed to empower NAHN members to develop important skills and prepare to serve on volunteer boards at the local and national level. Please note that LLI requires a separate registration from the NAHN conference.
Invited Speakers
 Mildred Espinoza, CEO & Founder, EBLA Digital PhD, RN, FAAN
Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Central Time
Espinoza is a two- time Emmy-Award winning journalist and television executive that spent over 15 years in the broadcast industry in New York City. She is the recipient of a silver medal presented to her by the United Nations Correspondent’s Association for her coverage on sustainability, climate change and tourism in Honduras. She is the recipient of a Journalism Scholarship from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Mildred is now the Founder/CEO of Empowering Business Latin America, a company leading creative services through EBLA Digital in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She is a trailblazing woman who made her transition from being an established journalist and television executive in New York to an innovative entrepreneur, documentarian, and university professor of media and communication in Guatemala.
 Priscilla Valerio, PhD
Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM Central Time
Dr. Priscilla Valerio is a passionate advocate for healthcare professional well-being, dedicated to fostering resilience and preventing burnout in demanding clinical environments. With a Master’s degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Services, Dr. Valerio brings a unique blend of practical experience and deep empathy to the critical conversation around mental health in healthcare. Her extensive background includes decades of therapy experience, complemented by significant experience as a professor and educator, allowing her to bridge the gap between clinical understanding and effective teaching. As a Board Member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Central Florida, Dr. Valerio demonstrates her profound commitment and care for the nursing profession. Having personally navigated the challenges of high-stress healthcare settings and professional demands, she understands the “real talk” of professional demands and is committed to empowering colleagues across disciplines to prioritize their own care. Her work focuses on translating complex concepts into actionable, affordable, and accessible strategies that fit the reality of busy healthcare careers. Through her presentations and advocacy, Dr. Valerio strives to cultivate a culture where healthcare professionals can not only survive but truly thrive, ensuring sustainable careers and exceptional patient care.
 Daniel M. Suarez, MA, RN, Past President of NAHN
Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Central Time
I have been a Nursing professional with more than 45 years of experience in the nursing field. During my career, I have held several positions as a Clinician and Nurse Recruiter in several hospitals around New York City. Currently, I work as a Clinical Liaison Manager at Mount Sinai in NYC. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, I was Director of Sales for the NY/NJ region, at Nurse.com formerly Nursing Spectrum.
Besides having a successful professional career, I am very involved in the Hispanic community helping students and young professionals to pursue a career in Nursing. I am currently the President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses NY Chapter, and past National President.
I graduated from Stony Brook University with a BS in Nursing and earned a master’s degree in nursing administration from the Teachers College at Columbia University.
 Gilberto A. Salazar, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM Central Time
Dr. Gilberto (Gil) Salazar is a native of Guatemala and raised in Dallas, Texas. He is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He currently serves as the medical director of emergency medical services (EMS) education and oversees both initial and continuing education for many Dallas-Fort Worth EMS professionals. He practices clinically and is the former medical director at Parkland Health and Hospital System Emergency Department, which is a level 1 trauma center and regional burn center, where he cares for patients and teaches resident physicians, physician assistant students, nursing students, and EMS learners. Dr. Salazar is dually board-certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS and serves as core faculty for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Starting September 1, 2025, he will serve as Program Director of the EMS Fellowship program at UT Southwestern. His academic passions include modern learning platforms, portable high-fidelity simulation training, improving the patient experience, cultural competence, and innovative education content development. He is the creator of Campus Emergency Preparedness and Survival Training (Campus EPAST). One of his main goals is to improve the quality of education and training provided to both professionals and civilians in the management of natural and human-made disasters, particularly active shooter situations and mass casualty incidents. His research interests include EMS education, diversity in the workplace, behavioral emergencies, operational efficiency, and cardiac care.
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