In recognition of his exceptional mentorship and instruction, Barry Nursing graduate and current PhD candidate Juan M. Gonzalez, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, ENP-C, FNP-BC, CEN, has been honored with the 2023 Clinical Teaching Excellence Award.

In nearly 20 years of practice, the nurse practitioner has become a leader within his field, most recently earning induction as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Gonzalez holds three degrees from Barry University’s School of Nursing: a BSN, an MSN, and a DNP, each of which advanced his career as an emergency nurse practitioner with Baptist Health South Florida.

As a current PhD candidate, Gonzalez has devoted his research to projects aimed at improving health disparities in the U.S. and internationally, often involving his students as part of his role as a professor and mentor. This work has evolved through his advocacy for educating and running mission trips aimed at improving global health and disease prevention. He is also an adult-gerontology acute care specialist, which informs both his research and his instruction at Barry.

Among his students and colleagues, Gonzalez is known for his dedication and passion for clinical nursing instruction, as well as his interest in nurturing the strengths of every student he encounters. His current and former students credit him with inspiring them to explore their potential within the wide world of nursing and encouraging them to think both critically and creatively when they encounter a clinical problem.