Rosario Jazmin Ruiz Gonzalez, a second-year Doctor of Nursing Practice student at the UW School of Nursing specializing in Population Health and Systems Leadership, has been selected for the Latino Center for Health’s 7th Annual Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney Graduate Student Scholars Fellowship Program.
Established in 2019 and renamed in honor of former Washington State Representative Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney, the fellowship addresses the critical shortage of bilingual and bicultural health professionals in Washington state. The program provides $5,000 in funding to each scholar and brings together an interdisciplinary cohort of up to 16 graduate students from universities across Washington.
Beyond financial support, the fellowship offers mentorship opportunities with faculty and community leaders, professional development through research presentations and workshops, and the chance to build a statewide network of peers committed to advancing Latinx health equity. Over its six-year history, the program has supported approximately 72 graduate student scholars, investing over $390,500 in developing the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and raised in Yakima, Washington, Ruiz Gonzalez earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Heritage University in 2023. Her experiences interpreting for her parents and witnessing health disparities in her Latine community inspired her commitment to creating more equitable healthcare systems.
Through the fellowship, Ruiz Gonzalez will participate in collaborative learning and professional development activities between January and May 2026. She aspires to return to the Yakima Valley as a nursing professor, empowering the next generation of nurses to advocate for underserved communities, continuing UW School of Nursing’s commitment to advancing health equity across Washington state.