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Bridget Gessel 

GCU MS Leadership

Bridget Gessel, is an RN Case Manager at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix where she has worked for 11.5 years. She is currently working on her Masters in Leadership at GCU. She is a past NAHN Board member, serving a term as Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary most recently as Nominations Chair. Currently she is on the Community Outreach and Nominations Committee with NAHN, the Scope of Practice Committee with the AZ State Board of Nursing and is co-chair of the All of Us research program with the National Institute of Health and NAHN. Bridget says that it has been a pleasure to remain active with NAHN serving our community. She is very honored to have received the Bertha Sepulveda Community Service Scholarship!

Thomas Ballan-Duran

DNP GCU

Thomas was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He joined the US Army in February 2004 where served as a Combat Medic and an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist. He served one tour in Afghanistan. He is the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, and the Combat Medical Badge. After discharge from the Army, he worked for the Veterans Affairs Hospital as an Audiology Technician while completing his associate degree in nursing. In 2018 he graduated from Gateway Community College with an Associates in Applied Science in Nursing and became a RN on the inpatient mental health unit. He then  graduated from Grand Canyon University (GCU) with a BSN in 2019 and earned an MSN with an emphasis in Health Care Leadership from GCU in 2021. Thomas is currently the Nurse Manager of Outpatient Mental Health at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. He is in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at GCU, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2024. Thomas has been happily married for almost 5 years and has two dogs, Moo and Daisy. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking, watching movies, spending time with family, and music.

Daisy Ortiz Santos

Chamberlain BSN

Daisy was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and is currently employed at HonorHealth. Daisy’s goal is to one day work in the ICU. Her interest in nursing sparked in 2018 when she was a sophomore in high school when she started volunteering in the community and with

NAHN to gain some healthcare experience. One of her fondest memories is helping NAHN in the community. Her favorite volunteer event has been “Sound the Alarm,” where NAHN volunteers go to neighborhoods to install smoke detectors for free and educate families on the importance of  having one. She wants to continue volunteering with NAHN and inspire future nurses to join our amazing organization. Being part of NAHN has helped her in many ways and has

created opportunities for her to grow. Daisy wishes to thank her NAHN familia and especially her mentor, Ashley Merida, for believing in her and supporting her through this amazing

journey!

Ana Cano

MS Nursing ASU

Ana Cano is officially and excitedly half way through her Masters of Science in Nursing (Entry to Practice) at Arizona State University. Her  motivation to become a healthcare leader as  a nurse began while working at a clinic and seeing the health disparities within her community. At this time her goal is to graduate, participate and learn about community outreach, as well as continue to be a part of the NAHN Phoenix Chapter familia. 

Micael Pariga

GCC and Otawa BSN

Micael Pariga is a 3rd Block nursing student in the CEP program at Ottawa University and Glendale Community College. After serving for 14 years in Emergency Medical Services throughout Maricopa and Yavapai County and nine years as an ED Technician at Wickenburg Community Hospital, the desire to continue his education came to the forefront. He aims to work in the Emergency Department or the ICU before pursuing his dream of becoming a CRNA. Micael is a father to three sons, Hunter, Colton, and Caleb, and has been married to his wife, Shelby, for 14 years this year.