Juan M. Gonzalez, Ph.D., D.N.P., APRN, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN associate dean for undergraduate nursing programs and professor of clinical at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies has been named a 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award honoree by Barry University.
The annual award recognizes Barry alumni whose professional accomplishments, leadership, and service exemplify the university’s values and make a meaningful impact in their professions and communities. Gonzalez will be honored at Barry University’s Ruby Night Annual Scholarship Dinner and Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony on October 22, 2026.
A nationally recognized advanced practice nurse, educator, and clinician, Gonzalez has built a career spanning nursing education, emergency and acute care practice, professional leadership, and service. He earned his associate degree in nursing from Miami Dade College before continuing his education at Barry University, where he completed bachelor’s, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Ph.D. degrees in nursing.
Gonzalez joined SONHS as a part-time faculty member in 2011 and has since assumed progressively greater academic and leadership responsibilities. His work focuses extensively on preparing the next generation of nurses and advanced practice providers, particularly in acute and emergency care, while maintaining an active connection to clinical practice.
“Juan Gonzalez’ remarkable trajectory as a nurse clinician, scholar, and mentor embodies the very best of our academic community,” said Hudson Santos, Ph.D., R.N., FABMR, FAAN, dean and professor of the School of Nursing and Health Studies. “We are immensely proud to see Juan’s dedication to nursing excellence recognized by his alma mater.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from Barry University, an institution that has played such an important role in my development as a nurse, educator, clinician, and scholar,” said Gonzalez. “I am grateful for the mentors, colleagues, students, and family members who have supported me throughout my journey. This honor is especially meaningful because it comes from a university that helped provide the foundation for the work I am privileged to do today.”
Gonzalez’s contributions have earned recognition from nursing organizations at the local and national levels. He was recognized as SONHS Teacher of the Year in 2013, 2016, 2021 and 2026; received the school’s Faculty Clinical Excellence award in 2011, 2023, and 2026; and was named Graduate Director of the Year in 2019. In 2023, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Miami Chapter presented him with its Clinical Nurse Leader Award for his leadership and contributions to nursing practice, particularly within the Hispanic community. In 2022 he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2025), and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (2026)
Gonzalez’ positive influence on the profession reaches beyond national borders. He has contributed to SONHS initiatives advancing the nurse practitioner role internationally, including teaching advanced pathophysiology and providing clinical education to the pioneering nurse practitioner program at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Barry University’s Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate graduates who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement, leadership, and service. Gonzalez is one of eight alumni selected for the 2026 honor.
As he prepares for the October ceremony, Gonzalez continues to shape the future of healthcare through his leadership at SONHS, ensuring that the next generation of nurses is equipped to lead with both compassion and clinical expertise.
