Nurse, USCF BCH-Oakland Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) 

Aday's Bio:

I was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the east bay with my parents and siblings when I was four years old. I came from very humble beginnings. I grew up with loving and supportive parents. Through their encouragement and support, I obtained an Associate of Nursing Degree from Solano Community College in Fairfield and began my nursing career at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland (BCHO). I am proud to say that I have been at BCHO for the past 34 years and counting! 

I follow my mom's motto, "Never give up, learn as much as possible, and always give back to your community." So, in 2019, I returned to school and completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing with honors at Samuel Merritt University. In other words, Si Se Puede! 

I love my work as an RN in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at BCHO. I care for some of the smallest and sickest babies. I feel honored and privileged to be a part of a family's NICU journey. Although, I have also challenged myself to do more for our unit and community. I now chair the NICU Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-racism (DEI/AR) Brave Space and Co-Chair UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals Chicanx, Latinx, Campus Association (BCH CLCA). I am currently involved with many of our council committees, including the DEI/AR Steering and Education Taskforce Committee, NICU Unit Council Committee, Nursing Service Strategic Planning Committee, and, most recently, the Magnet Unit Department Champion Council. Most importantly and very dear to my heart, for the past 22 years, I have mentored Oakland high school students through the Community Health & Adolescent Mentoring Program for Success (CHAMPS) program at BCHO.  

If you could go anywhere for a day, where would you go? 

If I could go anywhere for the day, I would probably travel back in time and relieve some of the precious days I had growing up on a farm, the morning coffee with my parents, reading a book under a fruit tree, and swimming in the creek with all my siblings and cousins. But all dreaming aside, I love being out in nature and enjoy visiting Yosemite National Park. 

What has been an important success in your career? Have you had a key breakthrough moment?

As a Latina, I have overcome many hurdles in my personal and professional life. My goal is to help others overcome some of the limitations they may be facing. My involvement in DEI/AR and CLCA has helped me work towards creating a more equitable environment for people of color, especially women of color. Using my knowledge and understanding of my Latinx heritage and culture and evidence-based studies, I hope to pave the way for women of color to have more opportunities to grow and succeed in all forms. As the Co-Chair of CLCA and a steering committee member of BCH DEI/AR, I am doing my part to give back to my community while advancing our DEI/AR efforts and representing my community with PRIDE. 

Meet other outstanding women of UCSF through Our Spotlight.