The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) has selected Adelita Cantu, PhD, RN, as the recipient of the 2012 NAHN Nurse of the Year Award.

“I have worked with Adelita on many projects at NAHN and as members of the NAHN Board of Directors,” said NAHN President Jose Alejandro, PhD(c), RN-BC, MBA, CCM, FACHE. “As a fellow Texan, I am especially proud of her work as a leader, researcher and nurse educator at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and her commitment to the health of her community. Adelita’s tremendous efforts with the Healthy Choices for Kids since its inception in 2008 is a prime example of the spectacular work our NAHN members do. The program is in the same vein as NAHN’s Muevete USA program, in which she has also been involved for the last two years. Both programs work to improves the overall good health of children by promoting healthy food choices, portion control, and physical activity.”

“It was an honor to be part of the 2012 Nomination Committee for Nurse of the Year,” said Mario Alfredo M. Chavez, BSN, RN, NAHN Board of Directors member and Awards and Scholarship Committee Chair. “There were so many wonderful candidates that exemplified what NAHN represents. Unfortunately we could only pick one in this wonderful group of nominees.”

“Dr. Adelita Cantu’s work with Healthy Choice for Kids, Healthy Choice for Senior’s and her work with NAHN at a national and local level exemplifies NAHN’s mission to advance the health in Hispanic communities and to lead, promote and advocate the educational, professional and leadership opportunities for Hispanic nurses. For her hard work and dedication to NAHN and the Hispanic community I want to congratulate Dr. Adelita Cantu, the 2012 NAHN Nurse of the Year,” added Mr. Chavez.

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“What a phenomenal pleasure it was to read all the candidates for this year’s NAHN Nurse of the Year,” said Susana Gonzalez, MSN, MHA, RN, CNML, one of this year’s judges. “All the nominees were impressive beyond words! However, Dr. Adelita Cantu demonstrates the qualities necessary to be the ideal nurse of the year. Her life-long journey of making a difference, not only in the Hispanic community, but for all the lives she touches, made her stand out.”

Dr. Cantu for her part said, “I am humbled for this recognition and sincerely thank NAHN for its continued support and their consistent work to improve the health care of the Hispanic community. I am very proud to be a member of NAHN and look forward to our future together.”

Dr. Cantu was honored at a Congressional reception and briefing in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2012.

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