Board Members

Katherine (Kathy) B. Lopez, M.S.N., P.H.N., R.N has been a National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) member since 2002. She serves as co-board member for membership for the Los Angeles Chapter of (NAHN). In addition to being affiliated with NAHN she also belongs to The Sigma Theta Tau Society.

Kathy is the first college graduate in her family. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Azusa Pacific University, and a Master’s Degree in Nursing, with an emphasis in education from the University of Phoenix. Ms. Lopez was a recipient of two NAHN Academic Scholarships during her undergraduate and graduate work.

Kathy has previously worked for Intercommunity Hospital in Covina, Methodist Hospital of Arcadia, and Mount San Antonio College.

Ms. Lopez works at Rio Hondo College where she teaches for the Vocational Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs. She lectures on nursing fundamentals, orthopedics, gerontology and genitourinary. She does variety of clinical for both programs.

Diane Sanchez is the Assistant Nursing Director for California Children’s Services in Los Angeles County. She is a Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in Community and Public Health. She is currently holding the position of Treasurer for National Association Hispanic Nurse -LA Chapter.

Ms. Sanchez received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Rio Hondo College and her Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing from Cal State Los Angeles. She received her Master in Nursing and Master in Public Health Degrees, along with a Clinical Nurse Specialist Certificate from Cal State Long Beach.

Ms. Millan for the past 10 years has been the Nursing Director for Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health Children’s Medical Services.

She enjoys being a part-time Nursing Instructor for the OB/Pediatrics and Medical Surgical at East Los Angeles Community College. For the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Program she has provided OB/PEDS NCLEX Reviews as well as guidance and mentorship to nursing students for more than 20 years.

She has been a proud and active member of NAHN (National Association of Hispanic Nurses) for 15 years, and she belongs to the American Nurses Association as well as the American Public Health Association. In 2008, Ms. Millan was elected President-Elect for NAHN at the national level. She is very proud to be part of the NAHN executive board and working closely with our current NAHN President, Ms. Norma Martinez-Rogers, PhD.

Growing up, I always new I would end up helping others. I thought I would end up as a doctor, but realized during pre-med courses that there was one other way I could help others. This is when I decided to become a nurse. I had no idea about the exact responsibilities, pay, or shortage related to the nursing field but I was lit and ready for the challenge.

My parents helped me out with school and supported me everyday, not just financially, also by not laughing at me when I had to wear my dorky white uniform. I live every day of my life to make my parents proud and show them that their guidance, nurture and love, paid off. Without my wonderful familia, I would not be the person I am now.

The following quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail,” can definitely describe “in a nutshell” what I’ve done in my career as a Registered Nurse since 2005. I am a vibrant, educated, and proud Mexican-American Registered Nurse. I started my career at USC Women’s and Children’s Hospital, in Los Angeles, caring for newborns in the Neonatal ICU. In order to grow professionally, I took a job at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). I then got the “travel bug” and decided to take on a travel nursing assignment. I took an assignment in the exotic, hot, and exciting city of Apple Valley. Although not much of a travel for me, I just wanted to experience something different. Soon after my “travels,” I took on a different challenge in a non-profit organization as the Head Start Registered Nurse. I enjoy working with the community and reaching out to multicultural families. I’m not too sure what’s next for me, but I will go “where there is no path and leave a trail.”

A graduate from East Los Angeles College, Sergio has worked as a Nursing Attendant and moved his way up to Assistant Nurse Manger Cardio-Thoracic Unit at LAC-USC Healthcare Network. Sergio has taken on different management positions at Barlow Respiratory Hospital, Beverly Hospital, Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital and presently he is the Director of Critical Care Services at Citrus Valley Healthcare Partners (Inter Community Campus), where he supervises two Critical Care Units and two DOU Units.

Sergio is a clinical Instructor and a Nursing tutor at East Los Angeles College. Sergio is a Regional Faculty Member for the American Heart Association, Ambassador for the American Association of Critical Care Nursing, and a Member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.

Sergio received his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Azusa Pacific University and his Vocational teaching credentials from UCLA.

Sergio was the 2002 NAHN’s Scholarship recipient for the Bachelor degree category.

A Graduate from Los Angeles Valley College. Mario has worked as a nurse at UCLA Medical Center since August 1999, first as an LVN and now as a registered nurse.

He also recently has taken a position as a staff nurse to work in the Emergency Room at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Mario has been a member of NAHN (National Association of Hispanic Nurses) since October 2002. He was the recipient of the Hyundai Scholarship Award in 2003.

Mario enjoys the teaching aspect of the nursing profession. He has worked as a preceptor to nursing students and fellow colleagues.Local chapters provide members with the opportunity to the address issues impacting health care of Hispanics at the local and state levels. Benefits of chapter membership include local continuing education, professional and social networking.

Sylvia S. Estrada, RNC, WHCNP, CBCN, MSN, MSHCM, BSN is the Clinical Program Coordinator for the Wasserman Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Ms. Estrada is nationally certified as a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner and certified as a Breast Care Nurse. Her current clinical care and research interests involve the screening of women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer and drug/device clinical trials for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Ms. Estrada is a member of several professional organizations, including American College of Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, Oncology Nursing Society, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and the California Association for Nurse Practitioners

Ms. Estrada received her nursing degree from Los Angeles County /University of Southern California (LAC/USC) School of Nursing and her Bachelor's in Nursing from California State University, Los Angeles. She earned a Master's degree in Healthcare Management from California State University, Los Angeles and a Master's degree in Nursing from California State University, Long Beach.

Kelly Guzman, RN, MN has been affiliated with NAHN since 1996 and has served on the board of LA-NAHN in various roles including past president. She is a board member and the chair of the Legislative/Public Relations and Media Committee. In addition to her work with LA-NAHN, she serves as the Co-Chair of the Multicultural Committee for the School of Nursing at UCLA. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the Nurse Leadership Council of Southern California.

Kelly has been an RN for 19 years in Los Angeles. She received her ADN degree from Rio Hondo College, BSN from Pacific Union College and her MN from UCLA. She has worked as a bedside nurse in Pediatrics, PICU and the Emergency Department. She serves as a clinical faculty preceptor at UCLA School of Nursing for graduate nursing students who are interested in healthcare administration. She has spent the majority of her career in acute care hospital management at White Memorial Medical Center and UCLA medical center in a variety of positions including: Peds/PICU Supervisor, Director of ED, Med/Surg, Rehab, SNF and Sub-Acute Departments, Clinical Director of Ambulatory and Interventional Services and Director of Transition Planning. Currently she is the Executive Director of Transition Planning at HTS (Healthcare Technical Services), a Los Angeles based healthcare consulting firm.

Kelly is a proud member of a healthcare family. Her mom is a respiratory therapist who encouraged her and her sister to become nurses. Her sister, Lynn Aguilera (NAHN member) is a pediatric RN Educator at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital and recently received her BSN from the University of Phoenix and is pursuing her Masters Degree. Her niece Erica, has just been accepted to nursing school at St. Scholastica’s in Minnesota. So the healthcare tradition will continue!