NAHN Member Spotlight on Success

The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) is proud to spotlight the outstanding achievements of our members, who are making significant contributions to healthcare and the Hispanic community. Read below for inspiring stories and updates about NAHN members making strides in education, health equity, and leadership development. If you have a recent accomplishment to share, please submit it here for consideration.

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Armando Riera to Join FIU Nursing Board
Congratulations to NAHN leader Armando Riera, who will be serving as a member of the inaugural Dean's Alumni Advisory Board at Florida International University's Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Dahlia Maldonado Awarded the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) Emerging Nurse Leader Award
Dahlia Maldonado was honored with the ACNL Emerging Nurse Leader Award, which recognizes a rising nurse leader who has made meaningful and impactful contributions to the field of nursing leadership. This prestigious award highlights Dahlia’s dedication, innovation, and commitment to advancing the nursing profession.

Dr. Paule Valery Joseph Named 2025 Guggenheim Fellow!

NAHN proudly celebrates Dr. Paule Valery Joseph on her selection as a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow—an extraordinary honor in the Foundation’s historic 100th class. Dr. Joseph is the first nurse scientist and only the second nurse ever to receive this prestigious fellowship in its century-long history. This milestone not only honors her exceptional contributions to science and medicine, but also serves as powerful testimony that nurses belong in every space. Read More.

Paola German is an awardee of the Fourth Annual Women Making a Difference Awards!
Congratulations to Dr. Paola German, recipient of the Fourth Annual Women Making a Difference Awards, presented by Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley. Honored for her work in expanding vaccination equity in underserved communities, Dr. German has dedicated over 14 years as a Trauma RN at UCI Medical Center’s Emergency Department and serves as a faculty member and Family Nurse Practitioner at the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. Reflecting on the award, Dr. German shared, “When women lead with purpose, we create lasting impact across generations.” NAHN is proud to celebrate her leadership and dedication to healthcare and education. Learn More.

Carolina Mendez has been accepted into the ASU Innovation Leadership DNP program!
NAHN proudly celebrates member Carolina Mendez on her acceptance into the Innovation Leadership DNP program at Arizona State University. Her commitment to advancing healthcare through leadership and innovation exemplifies the impact of Hispanic nurses in shaping the future of our profession.

Rebecca Leon on Nurse.org: Advocating for Nurses in Health Policy
Rebecca Leon, MSN, RN, shares her expertise on the vital role nurses play in shaping health policy in her latest article for Nurse.org. She expands on this discussion as a featured guest on the Nurse Converse podcast, where she highlights the power of advocacy and the steps nurses can take to influence healthcare decisions. Don’t miss her insights on how every nurse can be a leader in policy change! Learn More Here.

Adrianna Nava has been named one of the National Minority Quality Forum's "40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health"!
NAHN Past President Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, RN, has been named one of the National Minority Quality Forum’s “40 Under 40 in Minority Health” honorees! This prestigious recognition celebrates her dedication to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for minority communities. Learn more about the award and honorees here.

Patrick Luna was recently featured in an article published by the University of Colorago College of Nursing!
NAHN member Patrick Luna, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, was recently featured in an article by the University of Colorado College of Nursing, "Advocating for Nurses." The piece highlights Dr. Luna’s dedication to advancing the nursing profession through advocacy, mentorship, and leadership, particularly in supporting Hispanic nurses. His work emphasizes the importance of representation and policy engagement in shaping the future of healthcare. Read the full article here: Advocating for Nurses.

Orlando Flores Selected as one of DFW Great 100 Nurses
Orlando Flores, BSN, RN, CCRN, CBRN, has been selected as one of the Dallas, Fort Worth Great 100 Nurses. The event honors one hundred RNs who were nominated by their peers and selected for being role models, leaders, community servants, compassionate caregivers and significant contributors to the nursing profession. The nurses recognized come from all practice areas in nursing including acute care, sub-acute care, school nursing, nurse leaders, academics and many more.

Milagros Rosado Elia Speaks at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland
Milagros Rosado Elia, MA, APRN, ANP-BC, recently spoke at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland on the topic of climate catastrophes and healthcare systems. Her talk was titled, "Climate Change Catastrophes: A Growing Threat to Healthcare Systems and Patient Wellbeing."  

Stephanie Frich Presented at a Leadership Conference
Stephanie Frich, PhD, MSN, RN, CEN, CCRN-K, presented an educational session titled, "An Emergency Department Leadership Guide: How to use advantaged technology to our advantage," at the Emergency Nurses Association 2025 Leadership Conference. The conference is hosted annually for emergency nurse leaders across the country.

Dominique Hyatt-Oats Promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Policy Innovation
Dominique Hyatt-Oats, MSN, RN, PHN, was recently promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Policy Innovation and Equity at the City of Milwaukee Helath Department!

NAHN Member, Petra Fimbres Honored by the Arizona Cardinals
NAHN member Petra Fimbres was recently honored by the Arizona Cardinals for her exceptional work in empowering underserved communities and promoting health equity. As the Founder of LatinaStrong® Foundation and Frida's Garden, Petra has dedicated her career to raising awareness of health disparities, mentoring future leaders, and creating spaces that foster personal and professional growth. Read more HERE.

Dr. Wanda Montalvo Named Executive Director
Dr. Wanda Montalvo has joined the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing as Executive Director of the Leonard A. Lauder Community Care Nurse Practitioner Program! Learn more HERE.

NAHN Member Susana Gonzalez is a 2024 Nurse of the Year Finalist
Congratulations to Susana Gonzalez, MHA, MSN, RN, CNML, who was selected to be a finalist for the Illinois Nurses Foundation's 2024 Nurse of the Year Award!

NAHN Member Nathalie Montano to Enter DNP Program
Join us in congratulating NAHN member Nathalie Montano, who gained admission into Emory University’s CRNA DNP program! This program is one of the most challenging CRNA programs to get into in the country with only a 10-12% acceptance rate.

Dr. Jose Alejandro-White co-authors publication
Congratulations to Jose Alejandro-White, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, MBA, CNE, FACHE, FAAN, who co-authored "The Certification Ranking of Stroke Treatment Centers is Unclear to the General Public," recently published (2024) in The Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. doi: 10.1097/JNN.0000000000000806.

Carolina Frantz Has Been Named the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 Inspire Change Changmaker!
Congratulations to Carolina Frantz, a distinguished NAHN member and leader, for being named the 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker Awardee by the Pittsburgh Steelers! Carolina, the Past President of the NAHN Pittsburgh Chapter and a longtime member of the NAHN Communications Committee, will be honored during the Steelers' Christmas Day game. Her remarkable contributions to her community and dedication to advancing equitable healthcare are truly inspiring.

Crystal Loucel was Recently Featured in a PCNA Podcast About Nurses in Research!
Crystal Loucel, a dedicated NAHN Board Member, was recently featured on the PCNA (Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association) podcast, where she shared insights on the vital role of nurses in research and the importance of diversity in clinical trials. Crystal's expertise underscores the essential contributions of Hispanic nurses in advancing equitable healthcare. Listen to the podcast or watch on YouTube.

Mia Manzo Graduates and Looks Forward to Her Future as a Nursing Leader
Congrats to NAHN member Mia Manzo, who is graduating from nursing school! Mia says, "I am proud to be the first nurse in my family, marking a significant milestone in both my personal journey and my family’s history. As a member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, I am committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare while advocating for the needs of underrepresented communities. This accomplishment reflects not only my dedication but also my desire to serve as a role model and advocate for others, especially those within the Hispanic community. I am excited to begin my career and contribute to meaningful change in the nursing profession."

Araceli Orozco Receives Endowment Education Scholarship
Congratulations to NAHN member Araceli Orozco, who received the Endowment Education Scholarship from the National Association of School Nurses! The award is given to those advancing their education in school nursing.

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Rebeca Leon a Finalist for Best of Nursing Awards from Nurse.org
Congratulations to NAHN member Rebeca Leon, who is currently a finalist for the 2024 Influential Nurse of the Year Best of Nursing Awards from Nurse.org. Winners are determined through an online vote - cast yours by 12/31/24.

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Martha Benavides Grows Professional Career
Join us in congratulating Martha for completing the Post Master’s UCSF AG-ACNP program and passing the boards exam for AG-ACNP-BC by ANCC this year! She was also promoted to NP III at UC Davis Health. Congrats, Martha!

Adriana Perez Appointed to the Minority Health Advisory Committee at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Adriana Perez on her appointment to the Minority Health Advisory Committee! A passionate advocate for health equity and an inspiring educator, Dr. Perez has dedicated her career to addressing health disparities and mentoring the next generation of public health leaders.

Her expertise and vision will undoubtedly drive positive change and improve health outcomes for underserved communities. Congratulations, Dr. Perez – your work continues to inspire us all!

Leda Garside receives Hillsboro Medical Center Foundation Los Heros de ¡Salud! Award 2024
Congratulations to Leda Garside, who received the Hillsboro Medical Center Foundation Los Heroes de ¡Salud! Award 2024! This award was presented in recognition of an outstanding business or individual for their innovative contributions to the ¡Salud! Program. Under her visionary leadership, ¡Salud! has evolved into a national model for community-based healthcare, prioritizing the needs of vineyards stewards and their families through comprehensive services that include medical, dental, vision, mental health and social care. Her focus on delivering cultural competent care and addressing social determinants of health has made her a trailblazer in healthcare in Oregon and across the nation. Leda's commitment to addressing healthcare disparities for the last 30 years, extend beyond the vineyards, as she actively serves on community outreach committees, coalitions and boards, advocating for Latino/a/x and Mesoamerican Indigenous healthcare practices. She also mentors future healthcare professionals and support initiates that trust and promotes upstreams approaches to healthcare challenges. Her legacy of leadership, dedication to equity and passion for improving access to care wil continue to inspire the ¡Salud! community and beyond for generations to come.

Esther Ibarra - Blue Cross Blue Shield AZ Volunteer of the Quarter 
Esther received the volunteer of the quarter award from her employer, Blue Cross Blue Shield AZ, for the number of hours she volunteers for her local NAHN chapter. As the recipient of the award, BCBSAZ donated $2,500 in my name to Angeles del Desierto Yuma Chapter. Congrats and thank you, Esther!

Lois Lopez publishes article in American Journal of Nursing
Congratulations to Lois Lopez, whose article on mitigating implicit bias, "Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover," was published in The American Journal of Nursing.
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Edith Garcia-Trujillo Johannes Presents at GHAPP
Congratulations to Edith Garcia-Trujillo for presenting "Before, During, and After a Paracentesis" at the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers Annual Conference.
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Gina Botello Celebrates DNP Graduation
Congratulations to Gina Botello on earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree! Her dedication and hard work have led to this outstanding accomplishment. Learn more about her journey and celebrate her achievement.
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Francisco Brenes Receives the FNA Nursing Innovation and Creativity Icon Award
We’re thrilled to announce that Francisco Brenes, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, has been honored with the 2024 FNA Nursing Innovation and Creativity Icon Award in Psychiatric Nursing. As a leader at Florida International University, Francisco has pioneered programs graduating hundreds of psychiatric nurse practitioners and is committed to research on mental health challenges affecting diverse populations. His work, which includes addressing suicide disparities, addiction, and spirituality, has had a profound impact on psychiatric nursing and his community.
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Linda Hughes Empowers Middle Schoolers with Lifesaving Skills
Linda Hughes, a dedicated school nurse at Chisholm Trail Middle School, is making a remarkable impact by teaching students lifesaving skills. Through the Allied Health Sciences Club she founded, students earn CPR certification, organize blood and clothing drives, and cultivate a school garden. Recently, the club received a CPR training kit from AHA and Texas Children's Hospital. "The importance of cardiac safety cannot be overstated," Linda shared. "By equipping students with CPR knowledge, we empower them to respond confidently in emergencies."
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Maria Hughes Honored as Up and Coming Northwest Indiana Influential Woman of the Year
Congratulations to Maria Hughes for being awarded the Up and Coming Northwest Indiana Influential Woman of the Year for 2024! This honor reflects her outstanding dedication and influence within her community.
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Caroline Ortiz Joins Editorial Team for Leading Holistic Nursing Textbook
Congratulations to Caroline Ortiz on her recent invitation to join the editorial team for the 9th edition of Dossey & Keegan's Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice! This premier textbook is a cornerstone for holistic nursing education and is anticipated for release in late 2025. We look forward to seeing her contributions to this essential resource in holistic nursing.