This year’s recipient, Hector Rodriguez is an ANCC board certified family nurse practitioner for over 20 years. He is also the sole owner and health care provider of the Alton Family Clinic in Alton, Texas, where he has proudly cared for up to three generations of families. He graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (formerly UT Pan American) with

a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Nursing.

Hector serves as a nurse practitioner in a medically underserved area of the lower Rio Grande Valley and is as an inspiration and mentor as a nurse practitioner preceptor. Hector is recognized for innovation in his approach to precepting. His innovation maintains clinic productivity while he prepares the future generation of NPs.

He is a skilled clinician and serves as a role model for caring and compassion in his family practice clinic. He brings his clinical expertise in providing selfless service to the vulnerable in his community. He leads by example and is currently continuing his personal professional growth as a life-long learner as a model of excellence for his students and his community.