About Our Board - TX: Southwest Chapter

President, Gabriela Baida-Mendez MSN, APRN, PMP-PC, PMHNP-BC: I have been a nurse for almost 10
years and nurse practitioner for 4. I started in the NICU, but have also worked in the pediatric emergency room,
pediatrics, and fertility (Preop, PACU, and circulating). Now I’m in inpatient adult psychiatry as a PMHNPI know
it’s a crazy transition, no pun intended. I started Texas Southwest NAPNAP chapter because I found myself in
between jobs as a PNP with little to no resources in the community. I imagined I wasn’t the only one and began
the process to start a chapter. We have a large community of PNPs in this area and am a big believer that we
are stronger together. We need to make our presence and profession known and respected. A little about my
personal life I am getting married in March of 2022 to the love of my life after nine years together. We love the
outdoors, being active, travelling, and our 3 fur babies.

Vice President, Roberta Durk–Gomez DNP, APRN, PNP-P: I’ve been a nurse for 27 years, and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for the last 12 years. I received my DNP from Texas Tech in 2015. I have been full time faculty at UTEP for the past 4 years and Director of the PNP program for the last 3 years. I also work as a PNP in the community in a Pediatric Private Practice clinic. On my free time I love to take walks with by pups and love to travel with family.

Secretary, Sondie Skory: I've been around a long time, 33 years as a nurse, and precepted many of you along the way. I started my nursing career in 1988 in the PICU, and after 14 years, I worked PRN in the NICU and also got my certification as a lactation consultant. I later worked as a school nurse, and simultaneously began my journey as a PNP. I graduated in 2010 in the first class of PNPs at UTEP, and have had several different jobs since...some good, and most not good...but all learning experiences. I decided to get my DNP in 2018, and started teaching at UTEP and HBU in addition to working at AB Pediatric Health Clinic. I love working part-time at the clinic, and teaching part-time...best of both worlds! I learn new things each and every day from my students and little patients! I also volunteer monthly with the El Paso Cleft Palate team and the CASFV shelter clinic. I'm a strong believer in giving back for all the blessings I have.

Treasurer, Alejandra Valenzuela: After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1996, Dr. Valenzuela cared for hospitalized children for 23 years. She completed her master's in nursing as a clinical nurse specialist in 2001 and as a nurse practitioner in 2010. Her dedication to providing the best care possible to our community motivated her to continue her studies and graduate with her Doctorate in Nursing Practice in 2015. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UTEP School of Nursing. She is the clinical coordinator for the acute care pediatric nurse practitioner program. Dr. Valenzuela is board certified in both acute and primary care and holds certifications as a pediatric oncology/hematology nurse from APHON and general pediatric nurse from ANCC. She continues to be involved in the community as a volunteer for Texas Special Olympics, CASFV, and as a member of the El Paso Area Advanced Practice Nurses, NAPNAP Southwest Chapter, and APHON.