2026 Brain Health Equity Fellowship

The UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Brain Health Equity Fellowship, which is supported by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), trains a cohort of nurse professionals to be brain health ambassadors. 

Congratulations to the 2026 Brain Health Equity Fellows

Please join us in congratulating the NAHN members selected for the 2026 Brain Health Equity Fellowship:

 

Cynthia M. Gonzalez, MSN, APRN, OCNS-C, CMSRN is an Advanced Practice Nurse from Illinois. A Clinical Assistant Professor at DePaul University, she is currently completing her PhD in Nursing. Her interest in brain health began after caring for family with dementia and the loss of a colleague to Alzheimer's. Cynthia is certified in Medical-Surgical and Orthopedic nursing and is a Past-President of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. She is the Education Chair of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses-Illinois chapter. A past Helene Fuld Fellow in Health Policy and Leadership, she wishes to use her new brain health knowledge to educate students and health care professionals and advocate for improving legislation that benefits those with brain health issues.

 

LinkedIn Profile

Dr. Darci Martinez is a nurse leader and community health advocate with 18 years of experience caring for patients affected by trauma and other health challenges, grounded in her belief that storytelling can illuminate complex health issues. Raised in the small community of Amalia, New Mexico, she earned her BS in Community Health from the University of New Mexico, then completed her nursing degree at the University of Colorado and began her career in community health, where her commitment to the field took root. Her sense of duty led her to serve as an Officer in the United States Army Nurse Corps, supervising high-quality nursing care for servicemembers and developing a passion for advancing the profession through leadership and education, which guided her into doctoral studies in nursing and Family Practice at the University of Northern Colorado with a research focus on suicide awareness and prevention. She is dedicated to increasing diversity in the nursing workforce and serves on the boards of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Denver Chapter and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, while also contributing to environmental storytelling through the Colorado Environmental Film Festival. She remains committed to uplifting the health of her community and advancing a more equitable, just, and healthy society.

Ivonne Nieto is a registered nurse working in Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Ivonne specializes in post intensive acute care with medical conditions that include strokes, epilepsy and spinal cord injuries. Ivonne has worked in the healthcare field since 2017. Ivonne is dedicated to enhance equitable care to underserved communities. Ivonne worked during the COVID-19 pandemic to administer healthcare to unhoused community members withing Los Angeles County.

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Dr. Paule V. Joseph, PhD, MBA, MS, FNP-BC, CTN-B, FAAN is a nurse scientist and public health leader whose work focuses on brain and sensory health across the lifespan. Her research examines how changes in smell and taste may serve as early indicators of neurological, metabolic, and cognitive disease, with implications for prevention and early intervention. Dr. Joseph is a Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health, where she leads interdisciplinary research and contributes to national efforts to advance brain health awareness through science, education, and clinical translation. She brings a nursing-centered perspective to bridging research, practice, and public engagement.

Yenifer Espitia-Gil is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) student and a graduate of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her professional interests center on public health, health equity, and community-centered primary care, with a strong commitment to serving medically underserved and historically marginalized populations. She has extensive experience in community health outreach, international service-learning, and academic leadership through her work with the Office of International Affairs at Charles R. Drew University and as the president of Travel Unbounded, a student organization focused on expanding access to culturally immersive travel and professional development opportunities. She aspires to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner who integrates evidence-based care, advocacy, and public health principles to advance health equity at the local and global levels.

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My name is Yuli Diana Pandocchi, and I am a seventh-quarter Master’s Entry to Nursing Practice (MENP) student with several years of experience working as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I am deeply passionate about volunteering and serving underserved populations, which has shaped my nursing journey and motivated my involvement in community work, including three quarters of volunteer service at Little Sisters of the Poor and other organizations. I was honored to be awarded the Brain Health and Equity Fellowship, as it aligns closely with my commitment to health equity and advocacy for vulnerable communities. I have a strong interest in critical care and aspire to become a Nurse Practitioner, where I hope to continue providing compassionate, equitable care to those who need it most.

Zachariah Hernandez

Oakland University School of Nursing

Lansing, MI

LinkedIn Profile

Zachariah Hernandez is a nursing student at Oakland University with a passion for brain health, dementia awareness, and community advocacy. Through over two years of experience in long-term care, he has witnessed the profound effects of Alzheimer’s disease on individuals and families, which has shaped his commitment to education and prevention efforts. Zachariah is actively engaged in student leadership and professional organizations, including the NAHN Michigan Chapter, and is dedicated to promoting health equity and evidence-based education as he prepares for a future career in advanced nursing practice.

 2025 Brain Health Equity Fellows 

Congratulations to the NAHN Members selected for the 2024 Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship!

• Francisco Brenes Ph. D., APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Florida
• Daniel Cox, ARNP, Washington
• Nora Hernandez-Pupo PhD, RN, TNCC, Nevada
• Zobeyda M. Otero, RN, California
• Alexa Perez, BA, Illinois
• Jenny Vergara, RN-BC, ACRN, New York

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2024 Brain Health Equity Fellows 

Congratulations to the NAHN Members selected for the 2024 Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship!

• Sandra Calderon, Carmichael, CA
• Irene Lares, Edinburg, TX
• Missy Moore, Washington, DC
• Justine Obiakor, Fontana, CA
• Kiba Ortiz, Princeton, TX
• Mavely Penzo, New York, NY
• Liliana Trespalacios, Mundelein, IL

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2023 Brain Health Equity Fellows 

Congratulations to the NAHN Members selected for the 2023 Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship!

• Roberto Molina Bon, Dunellen, NJ
• Sara Yvonne Jimenez, El Paso, TX
• Jennifer Sandoval, Chicago, IL
• Abraham Vargas Moreno, San Bernardino, CA
• Janelle Eradiri, Freeport, NY
• Lorena Perez, Chula Vista, CA

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2022 NAHN Brain Health Equity Fellows

• Mia Alcala, DNP, RN, CNS, CEN -  Oakdale, CA
• Susana Gonzalez, MHA, MSN, RN, CNML - Chicago, IL
• Mario Peregrino, Student - Los Angeles, CA
• Maria Perez, PhD, RNC-OB, LHRM, CHEP, HC - Hialeah, FL
• Dyanne Rodriguez, DNP, RN, MPH - Edmonton, Canada
• Luz Santana, MSN, RN, CMCN, ACRN, CGMT-BC, CDMS, CCM - Brooklyn, NY

Learn More