Passionate about health equity, nursing development

Since April Leon was 14 years old, she’s dreamed of becoming a nurse. In fact, her drive for teaching and nursing eventually blossomed into her dream job as a nursing professional development specialist, supporting Advocate Aurora Health’s northernmost Wisconsin communities.

Though she exemplifies nursing excellence in her daily role, she has taken it upon herself to build bridges in the Hispanic community. She recently helped develop a nursing leadership course on unconscious bias for her fellow Advocate Aurora team members and represents the organization in various Hispanic community initiatives.

“Everyone holds below-the-surface beliefs or social stereotypes,” Leon said.  “As health care leaders, we need to be aware of these unconscious biases when taking care of patients. Developing this course, seeing it valued in the organization and watching leaders learn and grow only furthers my desire to mentor and continue advocacy work while helping our organization.”

Leon uses these skills daily while leading Advocate Aurora’s clinical nurse mentorship program and facilitating a graduate nurse residency program, which supports newly hired graduate nurses and assists them with the transition from student nurse to professional nurse.

Leon’s participation in nursing and community organizations keep her going. In fact, she’s now a leader in Advocate Aurora’s efforts to vaccinate underserved populations, including those in the Hispanic community. Not only was she nominated to help start up Advocate Aurora’s COVID-19 clinic in Green Bay, she also is co-leading community COVID-19 listening sessions with Hispanic community leaders and is dedicated to help northeast Wisconsin residents take their shot to end the pandemic.

“I want to be a role model for my daughter, my family and other Hispanic community members to look up to,” added Leon. “I plan to earn my nursing professional development certification later this year and do not intend to stop there. There’s so much more I want to do.”

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