Vanessa Rodriguez, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Assistant Clinical Professor
Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing

Family Nurse Practitioner, Underserved Population, Diabetes, Community Health, Preventative Care

2025: ACN Scholarship Award
2024: UCI College of Health Sciences Faculty Assembly - COHS Clinical Team Research Award
2024 UCI Daisy Award Nomination
2019, 2021, 2022: UCI Nursing ARIISE Awards Nominee
2018 and 2022 Plexus Magazine Winner

Dr. Vanessa Rodriguez, DNP, FNP-C is a dedicated family nurse practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice faculty member who is deeply passionate about preparing the next generation of advanced practice nurses. Her teaching focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, diabetes management, and evidence-based primary care, with an emphasis on building clinical confidence through simulation and real-world application.

She has served the underserved populations in Orange County, California, specializing in the management and prevention of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes. She practices at UCI Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), where she previously served as Director of Group Medical Visits. In this leadership role, she partnered with interdisciplinary teams to improve diabetic outcomes, expand preventive services, and address social determinants of health within vulnerable communities.

A first-generation Latina, Dr. Rodriguez is deeply committed to advancing health equity and culturally responsive care. Her DNP scholarly project focused on mental health within the Latino community, reflecting her dedication to reducing disparities and strengthening community-centered healthcare delivery.

Since joining the UCI School of Nursing in 2017, Dr. Rodriguez has taught in the DNP programs while continuing to precept students in the clinical setting. She is passionate about mentoring future nurse practitioners, fostering clinical excellence, and preparing graduates to lead with compassion, confidence, and evidence-based practice.

Above all, Dr. Rodriguez values mentorship and strives to create a supportive learning environment where students feel challenged, encouraged, and prepared to deliver compassionate, high-quality care.

Lee, J. Y. C., Nguyen, J., Rodriguez, V., Rodriguez, A., Patel, N., Chan, A., McBane, S., & Mayorga, J. (2024). Digital Innovation to Grow Quality Care Through an Interprofessional Care Team (DIG IT) Among Underserved Patients with Hypertension. Annals of Family Medicine, 22(5), 410-416. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.3151

Lee J, Rodriguez, V, Rodriguez, A, McBane, S, Mayorga, J. DIG IT: digital innovation to grow quality care through interprofessional teamwork. [#63. Award-winning poster, accepted for presentation at California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) Seminar: Transforming Together, Elevating Pharmacy, Long Beach, Oct 12-15, 2023}

Lee J, Nguyen, J, Seo, M, Nguyen, T, Patel, N, Rodriguez, V, Mayorga, J. Early Impact of a hybrid chronic care (Hi-C) model on A1c levels among underserved patients with diabetes in the primary care. (Accepted for presentation at 2021 California Association of Nurse Practitioners, March 19-21, 2024 at the Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California

Lee J, Nguyen, J, Seo, M, Nguyen, T, Patel, N, Rodriguez, V, Mayorga, J. Early Impact of a hybrid chronic care (Hi-C) model on A1c levels among underserved patients with diabetes in the primary care. UCI Health Leadership Forum Retreat: Innovation Gallery Walk, March 21, 2024, Irvine, California

Lee, J, Nguyen, J, Seo, M, Nguyen, T, Patel, N, Rodriguez, V, Mayorga, J. Early Impact of a hybrid chronic care model on A1c levels among underserved patients with diabetes in the primary care. 2025 COHS Scholar Day Presentation, June 12, 2025, University of California, Irvine

Lee, J, Nguyen, J, Rodriguez, V, Salcedo, B, McBane, S, Ozaki, A, and Mayorga, J. Early impact of collaborative remote patient monitoring (C-RPM) for hypertension on underserved populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicenter retrospective observational study.
(Accepted for presentation at the 2022 American College of Clinical Pharmacy Global Conference on Clinical Pharmacy, Oct 15-18, 2022 at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco, California).

Lee, J, Nguyen, J, Seo, M, Nguyen, T, Patel, N, Rodriguez, V, and Mayorga, J. Early impact of a hybrid chronic care model (h-CCM) on A1c levels among underserved patients with diabetes in the primary care. [153-LB, Accepted for presentation at 83rd American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, San Diego, June 23-26, 2023].

Lee J, Nguyen, J, Chan, A, Patel, N, Rodriguez, V, Salcedo, B and Mayorga, J. Impact of a digital innovation to grow quality care through interprofessional teamwork (DIG IT): a multicenter case-control study on high-risk underserved patients with uncontrolled blood pressure. UC Health Harnessing the Power of Real-World Evidence Conference, April 10, 2023, presented at The Cove @ UCI

California Association of Nurse Practitioners

American Association of Nurse Practitioners

American Diabetes Association

FQHC

Diabetic Group Medical Visit

Family Practice

Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6445

Last updated
03/12/2026