Background

African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s. In fact, by 2030 African American and Latino people will make up 40 percent of Alzheimer’s patients in the United States. To combat this, these communities need equal access to healthcare and reliable information about brain health from people they trust – and nurses are among the most trusted voices in communities across the country.

However, nurses themselves need more information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). That’s why UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Center for Brain Health Equity designed the Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship to address knowledge gaps among African American and Latino nurse professionals, so they are better equipped to promote brain health in the communities they serve.

The fellowship is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and was created in partnership with the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), and an interdisciplinary network of subject matter experts.

NBNA's mission is to provide a forum for collective action by African American nurses to represent and provide a forum for black nurses to advocate for and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color.

NAHN is committed to advancing the health in Hispanic communities and to lead, promote, and advocate the educational, professional, and leadership opportunities for Hispanic nurses.

The Fellowship program is designed to achieve the following objectives:

1. Improve Knowledge: Provide fellows with tailored continuing education on Alzheimer’s and related dementias to address brain health knowledge gaps.
2. Cultivate Leadership: Provide fellows with the leadership skills and content needed to promote tailored brain health education among their peers and in their community.
3. Facilitate Networking: Connect fellows to a national network of nurses and experts working at the intersections of brain health, public health, and health equity to create opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

CDC's Healthy Brain Resource Center Stories from the Field highlight the achievements of award recipients. Click here to see CDC's story about the fellowship (published Nov 2024).

2025 Application

2025 Fellowship Applications Are Open Until 1/5/25!

Apply Now!

The Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship Program brings together Black and Latino nurses from all over the country to learn how to promote brain health in communities with a high risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Fellows finish the program with the knowledge and leadership skills to be “brain health ambassadors” in their community.

2025 Fellowship Program Dates: February 2025 – September 2025

Applications open from November 18, 2024 – January 5, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

• Be a nurse or be enrolled in an accredited nursing education program
• Be a current, in-good-standing member of EITHER the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) and/or National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
• Demonstrate commitment to addressing health inequities in their community
• Demonstrates an interest in public leadership, speaking, and outreach
• Special consideration will be given to students and early career candidates and nurses who work in community health centers

Fellowship Benefits

• Receive an educational stipend of $2,000 in installments throughout the fellowship, disbursed after the completion of the certain milestones
• Provided an opportunity to earn Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for workshops attended and through UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Brain Health Academy
• Receive training from nationally recognized subject matter experts and public health leaders to strengthen your knowledge, leadership capacity  and public health communication skills
• Provided an opportunity to network with experts across nursing, aging, and health equity workforce
• National and local recognition opportunities showcasing your work

2025 Fellowship Requirements

All 2025 Fellows will be expected to complete the Fellowship requirements below between February - September 2025, with an estimated total time commitment of approximately 25-28 hours. This schedule is tentative and could be subject to change.

- Workshops for leadership development and brain health promotion (Approximately 10 hours total) – All workshops are required, will be held over Zoom and be recorded for those who cannot attend live.

• Orientation & Welcome session
• Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Health Disparities
• Science of Alzheimer’s and How to Prevent It
• Social Media for Healthcare Professionals 
• Making Community Connections
• Preparing to lead your own community conversation

- Community engagement and community conversation planning (Approx. 7 hours).

• Plan, host, and lead at least two in-person brain health conversations (1.5-2 hours each) to reach a total of 25 people per audience; conduct post-survey of all conversation participants.
• 1 conversation with peers
• 1 conversation with community members

- Contribute to Evaluation Efforts (1 hour)

- Networking Opportunities (2+ hours).

• Attend 2 sessions with alumni mentor (2 hours, required)
• Optional: Opportunity to attend an in-person convening of current and alumni Nurse Fellows (Approximately 1.5-2 days; date/location TBD)
• Other optional events, like: Engagement in 1-2 networking sessions with national experts; Engagement at NAHN and NBNA conference events

Meet the Fellows

2024 Fellows

• 

  Judith Armstrong
  Arizona College of Nursing
  Las Vegas, NV
• 

  Justine Obiakor MSc, BSN-RN, BS 
  Azusa Pacific University
  Fontana, CA
• 

  Sandra Calderon MS, RN, FNP-C
  University of California Davis Health System; Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing UCD
  Sacramento, CA
• 

  Stephannie Cooper Clement RN, MSN, FNP, CCM
  Public Health Nursing Leader
  Cary, NC
• 

  Mavely Penzo BSN, RN
  Northwell Hospital
  New York, NY
• 

  Tammy Davis RN
  University of Alabama at Birmingham
  Birmingham, AL
• 

  Jose Perpignan BA, BS, RN
  University of Rochester School of Nursing
  Webster, NY
• 

  Irene Lares MSN, RN 
  Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
  Edinburg, TX
• 

  Aundrea Robinson-Burris MSN, BS, RN
  Veterans Health Administration
  Kentwood, MI
• 

  Missy Moore BSN, RN, WCC, DWC, CHPN
  Bridgepoint Healthcare
  Washington, DC
• 

  Liliana Trespalacios RMA, BSN
  Herzing University
  Mundelein, IL

 Alumni Mentors 

• 

  Sarah Yvonne Jimenez, PhD, RN
  University of Texas at El Paso College of Nursing
  El Paso, TX
• 

  LaQuadria Robinson, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC
  University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
  Calera, AL

Alumni

2023 Fellows

• Johanni Cadet, BSN, RN, Miami Gardens, FL
• Bre Craddock, BSN, RN, CCRN, Louisville, KY
• Janelle Eradiri, Freeport, NY
• Sarah Yvonne Jimenez, PhD, RN, El Paso, TX
• Roberto Molina Bon, MS, BSN, RN, Dunellen, NJ
• Lorena Perez, MSN, PhD-C, RN, PHN, Chula Vista, CA
• LaQuadria Robinson, DNP, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, Birmingham, AL
• Jennifer Sandoval, DNP, MSN, RN-BC, Chicago, IL
• Abraham Vargas Moreno, San Bernadino, CA
• Juanita Wells, DNP, RN, Flushing, MI

2022 Fellows

• Luz Alcala DNP, RN, CNS, CEN, Oakdale, CA
• Trudy Gaillard PhD, CDCES, FAHA, Miami, FL
• Sussie Gonzalez MHA, MSN, RN, CNML, Chicago, IL
• LaTonya Hines BSN, RN, Atlanta, GA
• Victoria Jordan-Smith DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNE, Pinson, AL
• Judith Laguerre BSN, RN-BC, Cambridge, MA
• Mario Peregrino, Los Angeles, CA
• Maria Perez PhD, RNC-OB, LHRM, CHEP, HC, Hialeah, FL
• Dyanne Rodriguez DNP, RN, MPH, Boston, MA
• Luz Santana MSN, RN, CMCN, ACRN, CGMT-BC, CDMS, CCM, Brooklyn, NY
• Erma Smith-King PhD, MBA, MPH, RN, CNE, ACUE, Apex, NC
• Charlene Whitaker-Brown DNP, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CHFN, Charlotte, NC

What Previous Fellows Have to Say

“The fellowship has been the most remarkable career experience I have had, so far. This fellowship has afforded the opportunity to deeply broaden my understanding, knowledge and skills on so many topics, including public speaking, health and social policies, research and clinical trials implementations, dissemination of health-related info on social media, community engagement, development of professional networks, and the ability to influence and support my community. I’m thankful for the breadth and depth of the learning opportunity, connections I’ve made and the guidance I’ve received.” – Judith Laguerre, BSN, RN-BC

Charlene Whitaker-Brown, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CHFN

Mario Peregrino

Dyanne Rodriguez, DNP, RN, MPH

“I was blessed to be selected for the inaugural Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship Class of 2022. I cannot say enough about the UsA2 team that helped me grow in knowledge, and a better understanding of Alzheimer's Disease. The fellowship made me aware of the disparities in brain health affecting the African American and Latino communities and modifiable risk factors.I always wanted to make a larger impact in the community regarding Alzheimer's Disease awareness and thanks to this fellowship I feel better prepared to get the word out!” – LaTonya Hines, BSN, RN

"I was privileged to be a part of the inaugural fellowship and what a phenomenal experience it has been. I have met amazing fellows located across the nation and established great professional friendships for a lifetime. The brain health equity knowledge and tools we have obtained helped me personally and professionally and I will be able to make an impact locally in sharing my knowledge on brain health equity." – Sussie Gonzalez, MHA, MSN, RN, CNML

Dr. Maria Perez

Dr. Erma Smith-King

Contact Information & Acknowledgements

Any questions? Contact Daphne Delgado, Program Director, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Center for Brain Health Equity, at [email protected].

This fellowship is supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (1NU58DP006781) totaling $1.5 million with 100% funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC, HHS or the US Government.