Doctoral student Jimmy Reyes earns 2008 Catalyst Award - The University of Iowa College of Nursing

Doctoral student Jimmy Reyes earns 2008 Catalyst Award

Jimmy Reyes, MSN, RN, is a 2008 Catalyst Award winner. Catalyst Awards honor those who, during the past year, have shown a commitment to achieving excellence through diversity by promoting the development of an inclusive, diverse campus community. Reyes has earned his BSN and MSN from the UI College of Nursing, and is currently working on a joint Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD in Gerontology/Public Health.

He volunteers his time and skills to migrant farm workers in Iowa through the Proteus Migrant Health Clinic, serving the medical needs of more than 600 migrant farm workers since 2006. His work with “Friends of the Immigrant” has included coordinating English-speaking classes and computer classes for Hispanic/Latino residents of all ages and health prevention and awareness workshops. His programs with the UI Human Rights Week Committee have included panels on HIV/AIDS, diabetes in minority communities, and migrant worker conditions.

To address the language disparity at UIHC, Reyes created a Spanish welcome packet for Hispanic/Latino patients in the cancer unit and translated several pain tools that nurses use to assess patient pain. He is co-founder of the UI Minority Student Nurse Association and has served as president and vice-president of the organization.

According to his nomination, submitted by Valerie Garr, Diversity Coordinator in the College of Nursing, “Committed to the cause of human rights and dignity for all people, Jimmy is not only a gifted nurse practitioner, but he is also a remarkable and humble young man who has consistently demonstrated both inside and outside of the UI campus his self-less and generous spirit of providing healthcare and wellness education to underserved communities. Along the way, Jimmy has also managed to get many of his nursing and health science colleagues (students and faculty alike) to participate in his efforts, giving them direct opportunities to expand their understanding of and compassion for underserved populations while increasing his colleague’s practice of cultural competency and respect for diversity within and outside the University community. …Jimmy Reyes is a true campus and community leader who lets his actions speak louder than his words, and who understands the symbiotic or mutual relationship between diversity empowerment and personal commitment.”

The award will be presented at the 10th Annual Catalyst Award Celebration on Thursday, November 13th at 4:00pm in the Levitt Center for University Advancement. Provost Wallace Loh will present the keynote address. Past Catalyst Award recipients from the College of Nursing include Tess Judge-Ellis, Mickey Eliason, and the Men In Nursing Taskforce.

November 3, 2008