Adelita G. Cantu, PhD, RN, FAAN

Adelita G. Cantu, PhD, RN, FAAN is a native of San Antonio and is an Associate Professor at UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing. Dr. Cantu received her BSN from the University of Incarnate Word, a MS in Community Health Nursing from Texas Women’s University and her PhD in clinical nursing research from UT Health San Antonio. Dr. Cantu has over 40 years of experience as a public health nurse; 20 being as a nursing faculty focused on educating nursing students in the intersection of public health and nursing. As a public health nurse, Dr. Cantu’s priority and impact is focused on the promotion of health and well-being in vulnerable, marginalized communities. Dr. Cantu is deeply embedded in many local and state collaborations focused on environmental justice issues and adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Dr. Cantu is a Board of Director member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. Dr. Cantu has also been involved with the development of the San Antonio Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and is on their Climate and Equity Taskforce.  Dr. Cantu was the 2019 winner of the Charlotte Brody Award and included in 2020 among the Best 25 Nurses in South Central Texas and has been inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.