Unique approaches to care and research are not always accepted at first, and nurse innovators everywhere often overcome many obstacles to obtain the resources and credibility needed to implement life-changing ideas and programs. This is true for Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor and the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing at The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing), who developed the successful ¡Cuídate! or “Take Care of Yourself” program.

Even with her extensive background in health promotion and health disparities research and practice, Dr. Villarruel experienced pushback in developing the¡Cuídate! program, a culturally-based curriculum designed to reduce HIV risk among Latino youth. In a recent interview with Johnson & Johnson Nursing, Dr. Villarruel discussed the challenges and triumphs of bringing this program to life, as well as her role as a nurse leader in reducing health disparities.