Clinical Assistant Professor Inducted into the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

June 29, 2017

On June 22, wildcat nursing leader José A. Parés-Avila, DNP, MA, RN, ARNP, NP-C, LMHC, AAHIVS, clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, was among 67 nurse practitioners nationwide to be inducted as Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in Philadelphia.

Dr. Parés-Avila received the honor because of his inclusive health care practice and education excellence related to HIV/AIDS, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and veterans’ health issues. In addition to mentoring UA doctoral students in these areas, he developed and implemented a new UA College of Nursing course titled, ‘Chronic Care Counseling in Spanish for the Latino Patient.’ He was also recognized for his work as an HIV practitioner in the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, where he pioneered changes in HIV care promoting system-wide increase in routine HIV screening of veterans.

Dr. Parés-Avila joined the UA College of Nursing in 2015 as a clinical assistant professor. Last year he celebrated 11 years as a second-career nurse, and 31 years serving the LGBT community.

“As a colleague who has worked closely with Dr. Pares-Avilla, I am impressed by his passion and drive to better serve his patients, students, colleagues and community,” said UA College of Nursing professor Ted Rigney, PhD, ANP, ACNP-BC, FAANP. “He led the nation in developing a model of care for homeless veterans and had the first specialty clinic to implement a patient-centered healthcare model. Dr. Pares-Avilla developed an interprofessional HIV clinic that is a national exemplar. He will make impressive contributions to the initiatives of the FAANP and mentor AANP members.”

The AANP Fellowship program was established in 2000 to recognize nurse practitioner (NP) leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through clinical practice, teaching, research, education or policy. Nominees must demonstrate excellence promoting the NP role, ideally at a national or international level, and in two of four areas.

AANP is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners, representing the interests of more than 205,000 NPs nationwide as represented by approximately 58,000 individual members and 200 organizations. Through the organization, members provide legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels to advance health policy; promote excellence in practice, education and research; and establish standards that best serve NP patients and other health-care consumers.