Meet The Miami Chapter Board
Danay Rodriguez-Arritola, DNP, MBA, APRN
President-Elect
Dr. Danay Rodriguez-Arritola has been in healthcare for 18 years. She has worked for several healthcare organizations such as Hialeah Hospital – Tenet Healthcare, Memorial Miramar, and Larkin Community Hospital where she is the Chief Nursing Officer. Dr. Rodriguez-Arritola has also been an adjunct professor at Miami Regional University and sits as the PAC chair for this school. She has appointments as a community board member for several nursing schools.
During her tenure, she has been recognized by her organizations and has received multiple honors, including several Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Awards, Tenet Hero Hall of Fame Inductee, Employee of the Year and Special Recognition Award for Excellence in Nursing and Clinical Informatics at Hialeah Hospital, and NAHN Miami Chapter Executive Nurse Leader Award.
Carmen Rosa Presti, DNP, APRN-BC, CHSE
President-Elect
NAHN National Nominating Commitee Member
Dr. Carmen Presti, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, combines her love of teaching and patient care as Assistant Professor at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Beginning as a nurse in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit and now the cardiothoracic/surgical ICU she sees consequences of health care disparities related to gun violence, trauma, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19. She cares for patients recovering from cardiac surgery, organ transplants, mechanical circulatory support devices, general surgery, and COVID-19 respiratory failure. Her areas of scholarly interest range from novel educational strategies and complex clinical conditions to inequities in cardiovascular care. She has won Teacher of the Year Awards, NAHN Miami President's Award, among others.
Meet The Miami Chapter Board
Treasurer
Maria Cuellar, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, CWS
Maria has dedicated more than 34 years to the nursing profession, bringing extensive clinical expertise, leadership experience, and an unwavering commitment to quality patient care. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of healthcare settings, contributing to patient care, nursing education, and community health initiatives.
She began her career at Baptist Hospital, where she worked as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, gaining valuable experience in the care of critically ill patients. Later, she became involved in the Scholars Program in collaboration with Miami Dade College, supporting the development and education of future nursing professionals. Maria also served at Mercy Hospital as a nursing professor for the Mercy School of Nursing, where she played an important role in educating and mentoring aspiring nurses.
In addition to her clinical and academic contributions, Maria worked for many years with the Visiting Nurse Association, providing care and support to the HIV/AIDS community. For the past 17 years, Maria has successfully operated a wound care company, providing specialized wound management services while overseeing clinical operations, maintaining high standards of care, and collaborating closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals. Her leadership in wound care, combined with decades of nursing experience, reflects her commitment to advancing patient outcomes, promoting clinical excellence, and supporting the continued growth of the nursing profession.
Secretary
Martha Wydra, DNP, APRN-BC
Dr. Martha I. Wydra, MSN, DNP, AGAC-NP, CCRN, an accomplished nursing leader serving in hospital management within critical care and emergency department environments.
Beyond her clinical leadership, Dr. Wydra is a passionate advocate and the founder of the Wings to Freedom Foundation, an organization committed to supporting individuals and families impacted by trauma. Her profound impact has been recognized through multiple accolades, including the prestigious Gratitud, Honor y Causa medal, as well as an official county proclamation designating July 31st as Wings to Freedom Foundation Day across Dade County.
A published researcher focused on improving intimate partner violence identification in healthcare, and a recipient of honors including the DAISY Award and the Clinical Excellence Practice Award, she is deeply dedicated to fostering healing, education, and empowerment both at the bedside and throughout our broader community.
Armando Riera, MSN, APRN-BC is an internationally known nurse leader with over thirty years of experience, spanning perioperative nursing, clinical care coordination and advanced practice. As a nurse practitioner in a transitional clinic, he focuses on reducing hospital readmissions, decreasing lengths of stay and improving outcomes. He has served as a Board Member, Committee Chair, and Treasurer for the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and is currently President Elect of NAHN National. He has been recognized for his service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is a recipient of multiple awards including the National Association of Hispanic Nurses Nurse of the Year, Latino Center on Aging Community Service Award, Advanced Practice Provider of the Year and the Sarah Gomez Eric Humanitarian Award, among others.
