Presented By: Dr. Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, RN
Topic: Environmental Justice and Health Equity
The second session in our series dives into the critical intersection of environmental factors, health equity, and asthma.
Key topics include:
- Understanding the environmental factors that contribute to asthma disparities
- Identifying the communities most impacted by environmental health risks
- Strategies for effective advocacy at the local, state, and national levels
Participants will leave with actionable insights, including a call to action to advocate for policy change that promotes healthier environments for all. This session is a valuable opportunity for school nurses to contribute to advancing health equity in their communities.
This event is FREE to attend
The School Nurse Lunch & Learn Series will be hosted on Zoom and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Upon registering, you'll receive the Zoom access details in your confirmation email. Feel free to join us on the platform of your choice—we look forward to seeing you there!
Presenter
Dr. Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, RN
Public Health Nurse, National Director of Health Systems Improvement, American Lung Association
Dr. Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, RN, is a public health nurse working for the American Lung Association as National Director of Health Systems Improvement. There, she leads a national asthma quality improvement program, partnering with primary care providers, clinics, and systems to improve asthma outcomes. Prior to this position, Dr. Guiracocha worked as a NICU nurse, advocating for all families to have equitable access to quality care. She has also worked with the Chicago Public Schools to improve school management of chronic conditions for students. Dr. Guiracocha is Ecuadorian-American, a life-long resident of Chicago, passionate about environmental justice and community organizing, and speaks Spanish. Dr. Guiracocha holds her B.S. from Wheaton College in Illinois, B.S.N. from Loyola University Chicago, and her doctoral degree from Rush University in Advanced Public Health Nursing.
Moderator
Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN
Certified School Nurse
Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN currently works as a certified school nurse at a public high school outside of Chicago, and as visiting professor of nursing at UIC. She is committed to being a lifelong learner and continues her efforts in improving child health outcomes in our most vulnerable populations through her current practice, advocacy, and teaching.
Barrera was the first Latina President of Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) and served during the pandemic. She’s engaged with ANA-Illinois by serving on the Executive Board as Secretary. Gloria was appointed to the IDPH Diversity in Health Care Professions Task Force as well as the Governor’s Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s School Safety Committee. Barrera has demonstrated her deep commitment to helping others through her volunteerism and community service with various non-profit organizations where she shares her expertise and serves as a leader. She is a Fellow of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), a Climate Health Organizing (CHEEA) Fellow and Co-Founder of Nurse Heroes for Zero (NHFZ). Barrera is considered a subject matter expert in school nursing, environmental advocacy and health equity, and public health. Barrera is invested in mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders and is Co-Founder of the Society of Latinx Nurses. She’s been recognized for her leadership and service by several organizations, both locally and nationally. Barrera was recognized as 40 Under Forty by ANA-Illinois in its second year, named 40 Under Forty in Public Health by the de Beaumont Foundation and Nurse Influencer of the year by ANA-Illinois in 2023.
You may connect with Gloria via LinkedIn.
