Meet Our PresidentDr. Grace Grau, DNP, CRNP, AACC, FAANPresident, National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
Dr. Grace Grau, DNP, CRNP, AACC, FAAN, is President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), where she leads the organization's national efforts to advance Hispanic nursing, strengthen the leadership pipeline, and improve the health of Hispanic communities through advocacy, education, research, and service. Dr. Grau's relationship with NAHN began in 1985 while she was a nursing student at Jackson Memorial School of Nursing, beginning more than four decades of service to the profession. She launched her healthcare career in 1983 as an Emergency Medical Technician before earning her nursing diploma from Jackson Memorial School of Nursing in 1986. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Miami, a Master of Science in Nursing as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Her career has spanned emergency and critical care, behavioral health, cardiology, advanced practice nursing, academia, and health policy. From 2011 until retiring from full-time clinical practice in 2021, Dr. Grau served as a Nurse Practitioner in UAB Medicine's Structural Heart and Interventional Cardiology Division while simultaneously serving on the UAB School of Nursing faculty, teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing students. She currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UAB and volunteers as a Nurse Practitioner at the Community of Hope Clinic in Pelham, Alabama. Recognizing the need to increase Hispanic representation in nursing, Dr. Grau founded the Alabama Chapter of NAHN, creating a sustainable model for leadership development, mentorship, scholarships, and community engagement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became a trusted bilingual health educator, providing culturally responsive education through television, community partnerships, and statewide outreach. Dedicated to strengthening the future nursing workforce, Dr. Grau developed an innovative high school nursing pipeline program that introduces students to nursing through mentorship, experiential learning, leadership development, and industry-recognized certifications. She also served on the Alabama Board of Nursing and Alabama Board of Medical Examiners Joint Committee for Advanced Practice (2009–2015), helping reduce practice barriers for APRNs and improve access to care in underserved communities. A nationally recognized leader, Dr. Grau has chaired NAHN's Policy and Advocacy, Education, and Hispanic Health Policy Summit committees and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations. Her leadership has focused on nursing workforce diversity, health policy, civic engagement, leadership development, and strategic partnerships. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the NAHN Janie Menchaca Wilson Leadership Award, the UAB School of Nursing Faculty Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award, induction as an Associate of the American College of Cardiology and Fellow of the American Academy of Nurses. As NAHN President, Dr. Grau is committed to honoring the vision of the organization's founders while building the next 50 years of innovation, advocacy, leadership, and commitment. Her presidency is focused on strengthening governance, developing leaders at every level of the organization, expanding strategic partnerships, and empowering Hispanic nurses to shape the future of healthcare and advance health equity nationwide. Learn more about Dr. Grau and her priorities at https://www.youtube.com/@gracegrau9509
Meet Our Immediate Past President (2024-2026)Veronica Vital, PhD, MSN, MLS, RN
Dr. Veronica Vital has 26 years of nursing experience in academia, research, pediatrics, women’s health, and community health. She completed her Master of Legal Studies in 2021 and PhD in Nursing in 2013 from the University of Arizona. Dr. Vital received her BSN in 1998 and MSN in 2005 from Arizona State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Alverno College. Dr. Vital has been a member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) since 1997, and she is the current President of NAHN. Throughout her capacity as a NAHN national leader, she served on the Board of Directors for seven years as the Bylaws Committee Chair and the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair. Additionally, she served a term as the Nominating Committee Chair. Locally, Dr. Vital served multiple terms as President and Vice President of the Phoenix Chapter. She successfully led NAHN national initiatives in Phoenix such as the MueveteUSA project; Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA); All of Us Research Program in Latino Communities; and Pfizer Vaccine Partnership. She also co-led the Mentorship Academy. Dr. Vital is dedicated to advancing health equity and addressing health disparities. She is a nursing champion and serves on community advisory boards addressing health inequities locally and nationally. Dr. Vital serves as an Executive Committee member for the Nurses on Boards Coalition and is a Board of Director for the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Association (NCEMNA). Dr. Vital is also a member of the Steering Committee for the National Minority Health Alliance, and she served on the U.S. Office of Health and Human Services: Advisory Committee on Minority Health for the Office of Minority Health. Dr. Vital was the recipient of the 2022 March of Dimes Arizona Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award, 2020 March of Dimes Arizona Nurse of the Year Award: Outpatient/Community and Public Health, the R.A.I.N. Beatrice Castigalia-Catullo Founders Award Honoring Women of Influence in 2017, and the Profiles of Success 2014 Latino Excellence in Health & Sciences Award.
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