[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 135 (Saturday, November 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2080-E2081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MARGARET AVILA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 19, 2004

  Mr. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Margaret Avila, my 
good friend and tireless advocate of nursing. Ms. Avila is one of 
California's prominent educators in the field of nursing and plans to 
retire on December 10th after 30 years of dedicated service to her 
community.
  Ms. Avila has been an integral part and asset in the Congressional 
38th District Health Consortium. She was the Chair of the Consortium of 
Health, Health Professions, and Mental Health Committees. As an 
educator she designed, developed, and implemented curricula for nursing 
students from entry level to licensed and post-graduate programs for 
over 15 years. She taught both nursing professionals and medical 
professionals at a family practice residency level.
  Ms. Avila created an innovative Public Health Nursing Practice Model 
that completely reoriented and renewed the public health nursing 
practice in Los Angeles County. The

[[Page E2081]]

Model incorporates the concepts of Healthy People 2010, and it has been 
used in improving the quality and efficiency of the public health 
nursing practice. The creation and use of this model in one of the 
largest, most diverse, and dynamic settings in the country represents a 
tremendous advance in strengthening and expanding population-focused 
public health nursing. The influence of the model has extended well 
beyond the boundaries of California, with its adoption by the City of 
Detroit and the State of Michigan.

  Margaret Avila provided the strategic and creative leadership for 
this effort. Her career path has included excellence in practice, in 
education, and in leadership.
  Ms. Avila is a native of Los Angeles County and a product of the 
California educational system. She received a Diploma of Nursing from 
St. Vincent's College of Nursing, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles. She has practiced as a 
staff nurse, a public health nurse, a nurse practitioner, a state nurse 
consultant, and an adjunct nursing faculty member. She has served as 
the Director of Nursing at the Los Angeles County Department of Public 
Health since 1999. She currently serves on the Board of the Los Angeles 
Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses.
  Despite all of her success, Ms. Avila is never content to rest on her 
laurels. She has dedicated her life and knowledge to increasing 
opportunities for others. As a result, the Public Health Nursing 
Section of the American Public Health Association awarded Ms. Avila the 
2004 Lillian Wald Service Award. She received this award by 
demonstrating initiative and resourcefulness in developing efforts to 
improve the health of the public through political, legislative, and 
interdisciplinary activism. This noteworthy achievement highlighted her 
leadership role in promoting social reform activities for client 
groups, influencing health policy and health laws, strengthening public 
health nursing practice, and collaborating with other health care 
workers, legislators, and public officials.
  Margaret Avila is retiring as Director of Nursing for the Los Angeles 
Public Health Department. She is going into private practice and is 
establishing a woman's clinic in the underserved Pico Union area of Los 
Angeles. Her goal is to provide health access to low income women to 
improve their quality of life. She also plans to seek her doctorate 
degree.
  Mr. Speaker, today I would like to personally acknowledge and commend 
Margaret for her dedication to the field of nursing which enriches and 
promotes the health of our community. She is a model of the passionate 
American educator, and a devoted and involved citizen. I know the rest 
of the House will join me in congratulating Ms. Margaret Avila and 
wishing her success in her future endeavors.

                          ____________________