Honoring Alana Cueto During National Hispanic Heritage Month

Nurse leader, community advocate, and namesake of the Alana Cueto Nursing Scholarship.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, The Institute for Health and Social Equity proudly honors Alana Cueto, MSN, BS-HCM, RN, PHN, CNL, CGNC, whose career reflects the leadership, service, and advocacy that strengthen our communities and our profession.

Alana has spent her professional career improving the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families living in distressed urban neighborhoods through service, scholarship, education and advocacy. Alana is a registered professional nurse, certified clinical nurse leader and Fellow at the New York Academy of Medicine. Currently an active member and co-Founder of the Society of Latinx Nurses (SOLN) where she chairs the Scholarship Committee.

Alana combined purpose and passion as the Founder and President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) Garden State Chapter having led the chapter in cultivating healthier communities for all residents in the state of New Jersey. She also served on Governor Phil Murphy’s Healthcare Transition Advisory Board for the State of New Jersey and was appointed by the Honorable Mayor Wilda Diaz to the City of Perth Amboy Zoning & Planning Board (2018-2020).

As a nurse member of the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health (NIGH), she contributed to the survey for the development of the Sustainable Development Goals used at the United Nations (UN) were presented at the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women, Empowering Girls and Women through Innovative Nursing and Midwifery Interventions (2018) and later as panel presenter at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) State of Latinx Health in America Summit (2019).

Alana has been recognized for her leadership, health advocacy, and volunteerism. Honors include: New Jersey State Nursing Association/Institute for Nursing Dons & Divas Award (2019), National Association Hispanic Nurses National (NAHN) Henrietta Villaescusa Community Service Award (2016), NAHN Ambassador Award (2016), Seton Hall University College of Nursing Elizabeth Ann Seton Young Alumni Award (2015), and the Hispanic Leadership of New Jersey Health Advocate Award (2015)—a three-part award that includes a Bronze Medal of Honor and Special Recognition from both the United States Congress and the State of New Jersey Joint Legislature. On September 28, 2019, The Institute for Health and Social Equity, Inc. honored Alana as an “Unsung Hero” for her advocacy in addressing the social determinants of health and for working toward a more diverse workforce. In acknowledgment, The Institute established The Alana Cueto Nursing Scholarship to help pave the way for minority students pursuing careers in nursing.

Although a native New Yorker, Alana resides in New Jersey where in 2018 she demonstrated her commitment to servant leadership by running against the incumbent for a City Council position. Despite not being elected she continued her civic engagement and commitment to the community as an active member of the City’s Zoning and Planning Board, and through collaboration with community leaders and stakeholders in an effort to engage residents in initiatives related to health and wellness.

Alana is proud to share that of all her achievements—the greatest has been to be the mother of her two children: Wesley and Caryn.