Valerie was born in the Philippines and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and in Phoenix. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 1996. After graduating with a degree in Psychology, she was employed as a Behavioral Health Case Manager for seriously mentally ill adults at Southern Arizona Mental Health Center’s (SAMHC) EXCEL program and Carondelet’s Behavioral Health Department. After 2 years, she returned to the University of Arizona to pursue a Bachelors then a Masters degree in Nursing.

She graduated with a Masters degree in Nursing with a specialty in Adult Psychiatric Mental Health in 2004. While attending the Masters program, she was employed as a telemetry nurse at Northwest Medical Center. Since graduating in 2004, she has been providing mental health services to the seriously mentally ill and others afflicted with mental disorders at CODAC Behavioral Health and at SAMHC, Tucson’s only mental health crisis center. As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Valerie conducts psychiatric evaluations, prescribes and monitors psychiatric medications, and provides patient education regarding diagnoses, pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions and health promotion interventions. She works collaboratively with other health care professionals including primary care providers, specialists, nurses, social workers and pharmacists.

She has also served as a Clinical Preceptor for Masters Level Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners students enrolled at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. Valerie is also employed as Medical Director at Arizona Residential Care, a Level 2 residential setting, for mentally ill individuals. In December 2008, she started a psychiatric private practice, where she currently provides psychiatric care to adults one day per week. She is a member of the Arizona Nurses Association and served as a member of the Public Relationships Committee in 2008. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau and served as the Student Intern in 2003.

Valerie is also a member of the Philippine Nurses Association of Arizona where she served as a Board Member from 2003 to 2004 and a Corresponding Secretary from 2005 to 2007. She was also the Chairman for the Southern Arizona Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Association from 2006 to 2007. She is also a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Valerie founded and facilitated the growth and expansion of the Southern Arizona Advanced Practice/Nurse Practitioner Society in 2007 and serves as the current President.