Valeria Álvarez, DNP, RN: Transforming Community Health Through the 513 Relief Program

The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 is “United, We Are More.” In this spirit, Latina Today (MujerLatinaToday.com) and the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati Foundation are joining forces to celebrate the leadership, achievements, life experiences, cultural strength, and community commitment of individuals making a positive impact across Ohio and beyond.

In this special episode of Latina Today Podcasts, host Lorena Mora-Mowry speaks with Valeria Álvarez, DNP, RN, care coordinator for the 513 Relief bus and a leader in community and public health. Valeria oversees medical services and coordinates collaboration among UC Health partners to provide comprehensive, seamless care. Her work is driven by a commitment to treating the whole person and recognizing that health is shaped by factors that extend far beyond medical conditions.

Leer en español: Valeria Álvarez, DNP, RN: Transformando la salud comunitaria desde el programa 513 Relief. Escucha esta inspiradora conversación en español en el Latina Podcast y descubre cómo Valeria Álvarez está transformando la salud comunitaria desde el programa 513 Relief.

In this special episode of Latina Today Podcasts, host Lorena Mora-Mowry speaks with Valeria Álvarez, DNP, RN, care coordinator for the 513 Relief bus and a leader in community and public health. Valeria oversees medical services and coordinates collaboration among UC Health partners to provide comprehensive, seamless care. Her work is driven by a commitment to treating the whole person and recognizing that health is shaped by factors that extend far beyond medical conditions.

Escucha esta inspiradora conversación en español en el Latina Podcast en Spotify y descubre cómo Valeria Álvarez está transformando la salud comunitaria desde el programa 513 Relief.

Valeria is from Ica, Peru. At the age of five, she immigrated with her family to Hamilton, Ohio, in the United States.

“To be honest,” Valeria explains, “I don’t remember much about that early childhood because I arrived at such a young age.” However, she does recall not knowing English well, and she and her parents struggled to communicate, a common challenge faced by many Hispanic immigrants upon arrival.

Fortunately, Valeria attended school and gradually learned the language. Her mother always prioritized education.

“Get an education, because that’s what will help you, open doors, and create opportunities,” her mother would say.

So that is exactly what Valeria did.

“I learned English to the point where, eventually, I was even translating for my family. And I think many children of immigrants take on that same role.”

Valeria was inspired to study nursing by the stories her grandmother, who had been a nurse in Peru, used to tell her. However, she had not actually decided to become a nurse until she applied to the program.

As Valeria puts it, many Hispanic families encourage careers in medicine, law, or engineering. She explored engineering through a high school robotics program but discovered that calculus was not for her. She also considered law because of her love of reading, but it failed to spark her passion. That left medicine and nursing.

When she applied to the University of Cincinnati, she listed nursing as her second choice, perhaps influenced by the stories of her grandmother, who had been a nurse in Peru.

“I was accepted into the nursing program,” Valeria says. “I realized this was the path God had chosen for me, and, to be honest, trusting Him has since opened opportunities I never could have imagined.”

Although nursing was not her first choice, she quickly realized she had found her calling.

“The nurse is the one who is always there with the patient, minute by minute, holding their hand throughout the experience. That is what captivated me.”

Valeria grew to love nursing, even though it had initially been her second choice. It was only after attending her first classes and learning what nursing was truly about that she realized she had made the right decision.

“This is what I should have chosen all along. People always say it’s the doctor who cures the patients and sees the patients. And yes, that’s true. They have a wealth of knowledge they use to make diagnoses and provide treatment. But the nurse is the one who is always there with the patient, at noon, at eight o’clock, minute by minute, holding their hand throughout the entire experience. That is what captivated me.”

Valeria has always wanted to contribute to her community. Her goal has always been to help people.

“I realized that this was indeed the right path.”

Valeria believes that nursing allows her to cultivate the gifts and virtues she has been given. Raised by her mother and grandmother after her father passed away when she was young, she learned resilience and determination through their stories. Despite the challenges her family faced upon arriving in a new country without knowing English, Valeria learned to embrace her culture while adapting to American life. Nursing has provided her with the skills to integrate these experiences, yet it is the influence of her mother and grandmother that has shaped her most profoundly.

Valeria graduated as a nurse in 2020, but her desire to directly help the community led her to pursue a doctorate. She was part of the inaugural cohort of the Doctor of Nursing program at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, focusing specifically on public health.

Valeria is the nurse coordinator for the University of Cincinnati Department of Public and Community Health’s 513 Relief bus program. She works directly with patients while also focusing on the broader community, seeking ways to improve individual health outcomes by identifying systems and resources that can assist.

The 513 Relief bus travels to communities throughout Hamilton County. Valeria performs blood glucose and blood pressure screenings, provides health education, and makes referrals to medical providers and other services. The program also collaborates with social service organizations to offer comprehensive support, including assistance with birth certificates and SNAP applications. Valeria feels fortunate to bring these services directly to the community.

Valeria has learned the importance of one-on-one conversations in understanding the needs of the Hispanic community. Even small interactions can have a significant impact. One does not need to begin with grand gestures; small moments can lead to meaningful change.

The 513 Relief bus changes locations every week, Valeria explains. It may be in Forest Park one week and downtown Cincinnati the next, serving communities with different needs and priorities. Depending on the day, the team focuses on specific populations, such as individuals experiencing homelessness, members of the Latino community, or mothers with infants. These decisions are based on identified community needs. While every event and every day are different, the need is always present.

Valeria, a dedicated community leader, recalls her nursing school graduation and the cap she wore bearing the words “Sí se puede” (“Yes, it is possible”). This belief has guided her throughout her career, and she hopes to leave a legacy of perseverance. Despite the hardships the community has faced, it has always endured and moved forward. Valeria emphasizes the importance of remembering one’s roots and recognizing the community’s strength in overcoming obstacles.

Valeria recalls that, as a child, the hardest part was seeing her family’s needs and not knowing how to help, especially when it came to her grandmother’s health issues. Although she spoke English and could translate, some medical policies did not allow her to serve as an interpreter, resulting in canceled appointments. This experience deeply affected her and fueled her desire to help others.

After completing her doctorate, she launched a project to address language barriers, recognizing how they affect opportunities and access to services for families like hers.

Valeria Álvarez holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing degree, specializing in public health. Her doctoral project focused on language barriers and a quality improvement initiative aimed at increasing the use of interpretation services.

Valeria takes pride in the impact she makes through her work and hopes to continue making a difference in the community.
Resilience, perseverance, and a deep love for community and cultural roots are central to Valeria’s life and work, especially as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month under the theme “United, We Are More.”

Valeria invites everyone to visit 513relief.org and follow the program’s social media channels to learn more about schedules, locations, hours, and available services.

At the end of the interview, Valeria offers this advice to the Hispanic community:

“Although we have much work to do, even small acts can make a difference. Despite the challenges, we must keep moving forward. As you say, united we are more.”

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