Maria Saldiva, DNP,MSN,BSN,RN
Clinical Assistant Professor
A profession in nursing that spans over 20 years, with a focus on the health needs of underserved populations in domestic and global settings. While attending UTEP, working in Las Colonias, I realized that community health would eventually be my life’s work. After a move to San Antonio, TX upon graduation, my career began as an RN in a community hospital. Following a move to Austin, TX, I was employed in occupational health, providing nursing care in progressively expanding health and safety leadership positions. For the last 15 years, I have been working in community health, providing care to vulnerable populations, such as HIV/AIDS care, refugee/immigrant care, and working with patients experiencing homelessness, in leadership, nursing and advanced practice nursing positions. I completed an MSN program in FNP at UTMB Galveston in 2012 and the DNP program at UT Austin in 2018. The main objective of my DNP project was to deliver a 2-week public health immersion program for graduate students in Costa Rica, that continues today. Since 2019, I’ve been an Assistant Clinical Professor, teaching in the graduate nursing program and as an FNP in the Wellness 360 Clinic at UT Health SA. I chose the School of Nursing, due to its dedicated focus on addressing health disparities, making health care culturally, geographically, and financially accessible to under representative populations of Texas. As a DNP-prepared educator, my leadership vision is a focus on the integration of evidence-based health care in the improvement of patient health care outcomes; lifting barriers to care by addressing health disparities; and educating future advanced-practice nurses. I am in a unique position of positively affecting the journey through the health continuum of individuals, communities, and populations due to our professionally established comprehensive, holistic approach to health care.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2018 - Doctor in Nursing Practice - Global Health Nursing - The University of Texas, Austin, TX
- 2016 - Post-Master’s Program - Emergency/Trauma NP - UT Health, Houston, TX
- 2012 - Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner - UTMB, Galveston, TX
- 1994 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - The University of Texas, El Paso, TX
Highlights
Licensures and Certification
- AANP FP Certificate
- DEA License
- APRN CNP
- Registered Nurse
Appointments
- 2019 - present - Clinical Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
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Instruction & Training
- 2022, NURS 7305 DNP Project, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, NURS 7306 DNP Project, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, Guest Lecturer presentation, Health Care for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, Guest Lecturer presentation, HIV/AIDs update and Mononucleosis, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2021, NURS 6621 - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis & Management of Young Families: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 6110 - Advanced Health Assessment: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, NURS 6621 - Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Diagnosis & Management of Young Families: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2020, Guest Lecturer for presentations in the subjects of Urological conditions, Men’s Health, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Ethics. , UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
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Research & Grants
Grants
Currently Funded:
- 2022-2026, HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR)-Mobile Health Training Program (MHTP), Drs. Karen Schwab, Cindy Sickora, Kyungeh An, and Kathryn Parke and Maria Saldiva
- 2020-2021, Funder: Superior HealthPlan Provider Grant. Dollars: 2000. Title: Prescription Assistance for Alamo College Students. Role: Provider
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Service
School
Student Mentees/Trainees
- 2021 – Present DNP Project Chair, UT Health, San Antonio, TX
- 2019 – Present FNP Student Preceptor, UT Health, San Antonio, TX
Institutional
- 2022, Presidential Excellence Award Committee, School of Nursing, UT Health SA, Committee Member
- 2022, Global Health Hub, School of Nursing, UT Health SA, Faculty Participant
- 2011-2022, International Programs Committee, School of Nursing, UT Health SA, Committee Member
- 2021-2022, Infection Policy and Education Committee, UT Health SA, Committee Member
- 2021, UT Health SA, Tribute Magazine interview to discuss COVID-19 efforts
- 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Presidential Excellence Award Committee, Member
- 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Community Engagement Subcommittee of the SON Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, Member
- 2021, Alamo College District A Seat at the Table Show with Chancellor Flores
- 2021, UT Health San Antonio, “Importance of Influenza Vaccination,” KGNB Morning with Ron Friesenhahn Radio Show, Guest
- 2021, UT Health San Antonio, Multiple News Appearances for local TV stations
- 2021, UT Health San Antonio, Interviews for COVID-19 educational series
Service to the Profession
- 2021-2022 Committee Member National Nurse-Led Care Consortium
- 2021-2022 Participant Global Health Hub, School of Nursing, UT Health SA
- 2021-2022 Board Member San Antonio College Medical Assisting Advisory Board, San Antonio, Texas
Professional Affiliations
- 2020-Present, NONPF
- 2021, TNP
- 2019-Present, NNU
- 2012-Present, AANP
Community
- 2020-22, Assistant VP Broken Warrior Angels Veterans’ Org., SA, TX
- 2021, Volunteer STRAC COVID testing, SA, TX
- 2020, FNP Volunteer City of San Antonio Hurricane Shelter, SA, TX
- 2019, FNP Volunteer National Nurses United, Guatemala
- 2018-2019, FNP Volunteer Remote Area Medical, Houston, TX
- 2017, FNP Volunteer Hurricane Medical Relief, Port Aransas, TX
- 2017, Volunteer, Community Health Expo, Austin, Texas