Dr. Rudy Valenzuela, a past president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, is a family nurse practitioner and the President/CEO of Camillus Health Center in San Luis, Arizona and Clínica Santa María de Guadalupe in San Luis, R.C. Sonora, México. The two clinics provide low-cost, high-quality, compassionate healthcare for the underserved populations of the U.S.-México border.
Dr. Valenzuela holds a doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Nursing. His clinical and research expertise focus on cultural-competent care, border health, and pre-diabetes and diabetes among Mexican Americans at the U.S.-Mexico border.
He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
He has served in numerous board positions such as the Arizona Health Education Centers Advisory Board, the Brothers of St. John of God Ministry Board, the National Project Advisory Committee, Cultural Competent Nursing Curriculum, Office of Minority Health, Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA), among others.
Dr. Valenzuela has received many awards.Some of them are:
- 2009 Yuma County Nurse of the Year Award
- the Hispanic Health Leadership Award by the Hispanic Medical Association,
- the Humanitarian Award by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and
- the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Arizona College of Nursing
He frequently presents his research and expertise at national and international conferences.
Dr. Valenzuela is a priest in the Roman Catholic Church, currently assigned as administrator of the Church of the Holy Spirit in San Luis, R.C. Sonora, México.