Margaret Avila, Ph.D., PHN, APRN

Founding Dean of Nursing/Nursing Consultant/Nursing Faculty

 With over 50 years of professional nursing, Dr. Avila has been actively involved in nursing as a Nurse Practitioner in adult and women’s services, Assistant Professor at Mt. Saint Mary’s College, and Cal State University Los Angeles, also holding faculty positions at Dymally School of Nursing, Harbor UCLA Women’s Health NP Program and USC KECK SOM, and Nursing Director of Los Angeles County Public Health, Clinical and Public Health Nurse at the Department of Health Services,

Dr. Avila has been awarded both the National Hispanic Nurse of the Year and Southern California Public Health Association Leadership Awards, and numerous awards bestowed for her Public Health Nursing, as well as the Diversity Award and Innovation Award presented by the Department of Health Services.

Dr. Avila is actively involved in community service being active with the California DHS, Office of Family Planning, Family PACT Clinical Practice Committee, Federal Drug Administration, Panel Member Devices, ALIVA Health & Wellness Center- Nurse Practitioner, and Hollywood-Sunset Free Clinic- Nurse Practitioner. She has also presented at the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Department of Health Services, CMS Annual Nursing Conference and CDU Colloquium, in addition to her numerous publications including, The Reinvigoration of Public Health Nursing: Methods and Innovations. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, Role of an Advanced Practice of Public Health Nursing in Bio-Terrorism Preparedness. Public Health Nursing, and The Public Health Practice Manual: A Tool for Public Health Nurses. Public Health Nursing.

Dr. Avila’s nursing credentials consist of ADN Diploma, St. Vincent’s College of Nursing, BSN, Mount Saint Mary’s College, MS Health Care Management, Cal State University, MSN Cal State University Long Beach, and Ph.D. Nursing, University of San Diego.