Dr. Jimmy Reyes, the Assistant Dean of Enrollment and Growth Initiatives at Samuel Merritt University and a National Council of State Boards of Nursing Fellow of Regulatory Excellence, brings a wealth of expertise in nursing and public health education, regulation, health policy, and research within underserved communities, notably focusing on Latino populations and migrant communities. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Iowa College of Nursing. Additionally, he obtained his Ph.D. in Gerontology from Concordia University Chicago.
Jimmy’s research endeavors have been dedicated to the development and implementation of culturally anchored, family-centered educational partnership programs aimed at enhancing diabetes self-management, with a specific emphasis on nutrition and physical activity among Latinos with diabetes in Federally Qualified Health Centers. His foundational work has paved the way for the establishment of culturally sensitive protocols and guidelines for diabetes care among Latinos in Iowa. Moreover, Jimmy has fostered collaborations with numerous healthcare professionals across the state to elevate the quality of care for Latinos with chronic conditions. Currently, he is spearheading a three-year study aimed at enhancing the capacity for self- managing chronic diseases in both Yola, Nigeria, and Des Moines, Iowa, targeting underserved, hard-to-reach, and resource-limited communities.
Too many men ignore symptoms until they can no longer function. We end up seeing them in the emergency room, sometimes with late-stage cancer or uncontrolled chronic disease that could have been managed if addressed earlier.