A Filipino-American nurse leader has been recognized for his contributions to healthcare innovation, education, and patient care by the Philippine Nurses Association of New England (PNA-NE).
Dr. Nelson J. Aquino, a senior certified registered nurse anesthetist at Boston Children’s Hospital, was cited for his work in pediatric anesthesiology, perioperative quality improvement, and nursing education.
Aquino also serves as clinical coordinator of the Pediatric Nurse Anesthesia Fellowship and continues to practice at Winchester Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear, where he supports specialized surgical care.
PNA-NE highlighted his role in founding the Gender-Affirming Surgical Perioperative Program (GASPP), which aims to improve perioperative care for transgender and gender-diverse patients through evidence-based clinical protocols.
He currently holds leadership roles as President-Elect of the Filipino-American Nurse Anesthesiology Society (FANAS), consultant to the Council on Accreditation Nurse Anesthesia Fellowship Review Committee, and member of the Mass General Brigham Advanced Practice Provider Advisory Committee.
In 2025, Aquino received the AANA Foundation John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award, along with the PNA-NE Excellence Award in Advanced Practice Nursing.
The organization also noted his long-standing commitment to medical missions in the Philippines, underscoring a career spanning nearly three decades in clinical practice, research, and healthcare leadership.