Maria earned her Master of Science degree from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Before completing her graduate studies, she dedicated over 10 years to working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, where she served as a Registered Nurse, Nursing Manager, and Infection Control Preventionist.

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Fluent in Spanish, Maria is passionate about providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care to patients of all ages, backgrounds, and gender identities. She values building strong, trusting relationships with her patients and takes pride in supporting them through every stage of their mental health journey.

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Maria is an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau, staying current on best practices and innovations in psychiatric nursing. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys contributing to her community and promoting mental health awareness.