For Beatriz Valdes, associate professor of clinical at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, teaching nursing is more than instruction; it is an act of mentorship shaped by decades of experience at the bedside and in the classroom. That commitment to student learning and professional growth has earned Valdes the Faculty Senate’s Outstanding Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding faculty members with a substantial record of teaching at the University.
“Dr. Valdes exemplifies every quality this award seeks to honor—superlative teaching, dedicated mentorship, educational innovation, and a transformative impact on students and the nursing profession alike,” said Hudson Santos, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
As an associate professor, Valdes has built a reputation for challenging students to think critically while fostering the empathy and resilience essential to nursing practice.
“Exceptional teaching means placing students at the center of everything we do,” Valdes said. “Over time, my teaching philosophy has evolved to emphasize not only knowledge acquisition but also building confidence, developing clinical judgment, and nurturing the kind of compassion that holds up under pressure.”
She has spent years transforming nursing education through immersive simulation experiences, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a student-centered teaching approach.
“As a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator, Valdes has pioneered innovative simulation-based pedagogies that have transformed the undergraduate learning experience and elevated our program’s national profile,” Santos said.
Through her work, she developed an “escape room simulation,” immersing students in an interactive problem-solving scenario in which they have to identify and correct patient safety errors in a realistic hospital environment.
“Equally impactful,” Santos added, “is her simulation-based human trafficking education program, which teaches nursing students to recognize and respond to potential trafficking situations in health care settings.”
To run the simulation, Valdes initially established a partnership with the Department of Theatre Arts to mentor undergraduate students to play the role of standardized patients during the simulated scenarios. Later, the program transitioned to developing a patient pool of traditional nursing undergraduate students and professional patients.
“Developing immersive simulation experiences that prepare students to recognize and respond to vulnerable populations feels urgent in a way that goes beyond academia,” Valdes said. “It brings together education, clinical practice, and advocacy. I truly believe that one life spared from exploitation, one victim identified because a nurse or an advanced practice provider who knew what to look for, makes all of it worthwhile as it can truly change lives.”
Valdes has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents her work at national and international conferences, particularly on topics such as simulation-based learning, psychiatric nursing, and vulnerable populations.
But her path to the classroom began long before she earned a Ph.D.
Valdes started her career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at 19, caring for hospice patients early in her professional life. The experience required maturity beyond her years and introduced her to mentors who shaped her understanding of nursing.
“I was fortunate early on to be mentored by nurses who had trained in Cuba, and they were remarkable,” Valdes said. “They modeled what nursing looks like at its finest—technically excellent and deeply compassionate.”
However, she also worked in environments that weren’t as supportive.
“I felt that absence just as clearly, and both experiences shaped me. When I'm with students now, especially during those hard stretches early in their training, I want them to feel genuinely supported, because I know firsthand how much it matters and shapes you into an exemplary nurse,” she explained.
Valdes went on to earn a Ph.D. in nursing from Florida International University and a Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate from St. Thomas University. She is board certified as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
The journey from LPN to advanced practice nurse and professor has helped her understand the challenges many students face.
“As a first-generation college graduate who navigated multiple advanced degrees largely without a map, I understand how disorienting that journey can feel,” she said. “I try to offer the mentorship I wish I had.”
Students consistently cite mentorship as one of her defining qualities. Colleagues describe Valdes as deeply invested in helping students succeed, not only during their time at the University, but long after graduation.
“One of the things I treasure most is walking into a clinical setting and encountering a former student who is confident, competent, and thriving,” Valdes said. “It is incredibly fulfilling to know I played even a small part in their transition into practice.”
Beyond the classroom, Valdes remains connected to clinical practice, working one day a week with patients experiencing mental health challenges.
“Caring for others is my purpose,” she said. “Staying connected to patient care reminds me why I entered nursing in the first place.”
Looking ahead, Valdes hopes her greatest legacy will be the impact she has had on the next generation of nurses.
“More than awards or publications, what matters is whether my students leave with confidence in themselves and an appreciation for the privilege of caring for others,” she said.
“If I’ve played even a small role in that, it means everything.”
Valdes will be honored during the Faculty Senate Awards Ceremony at the Kislak Center at the University of Miami on March 23. Learn more about the awards.
This profile is part of a 2025–2026 Faculty Senate Awards series recognizing all awardees.
