Wanda Montalvo Receives National Association of Hispanic Nurses’ Nurse of Year Award
An Inspiration for Leadership and Mentoring
On November 30, Wanda Montalvo ’15, PhD, assistant professor, will be recognized with the Nurse of the Year Award for her nursing leadership and mentoring of nursing students, from the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), at the NAHN New York Chapter (NY) Annual Gala.
“It is an honor to be the recipient of this award, which symbolizes the strong, innovative, and resilient spirit of Hispanic nurses who strive to serve their community,” said Montalvo, who is also the executive director of Jonas Nursing and Veterans Healthcare at Columbia University. “Columbia Nursing stresses the importance of diversity and inclusion, providing care to its Washington Heights citizens and people around the world, as well as growing the Hispanic nursing workforce. It is also LatinX Heritage Month, which makes this award even more meaningful.”
In a congratulatory letter, Montalvo was thanked by Jeff Dominquez, President of NAHN NY, for her “ongoing commitment to inspire nurses to pursue a Doctorate degree as well as [her] dedication and advancement [of] our nursing profession.”
According to NAHN, the award is for “a nurse, who has developed a creative and innovative program, intervention, or strategy in one of the following areas: Improving the quality of health care in the Hispanic community (narrowing health care disparity)[;] Recruitment, retention, professional career development (increasing the number of Hispanic nurses at all educational and professional levels)[;] [or] NAHN organizational development at local, state, and/or the national level (growth, effectiveness, and communication within NAHN organizations, and with the community it serves)[.]”
LatinX Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe LatinX Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
With the passing of this year, NAHN celebrates more than 40 years of promoting the professionalism and dedication of Hispanic nurses by providing equal access to educational, professional, and economic opportunities for Hispanic nurses.