Life Work: Annabelle Núñez, University of Arizona

Annabelle V. Núñez became passionate about health issues when her mother's chronic illness made her understand the cultural and financial barriers to good health and preventive care among Hispanics. Now, in her daily work at the Arizona Health Sciences Library and in frequent conference presentations, Núñez helps medical professionals, community leaders, and librarians understand those barriers “so they can work very hard to close that gap.”

She led one such conference, the 2007 Trejo Foster Foundation Institute's ¡Salud Se Puede! (You Can Be Healthy!), and provides continuing information for medical practitioners at her Hispanic Health site (hcoe.ahsl.arizona.edu).

Núñez has also taken health information directly to Hispanics at local health fairs and shown students in the University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science program how to do likewise. Her visionary reach has brought together Hispanic and Native American LIS students with local high school classes to demonstrate the importance of health information.

For Núñez, a longtime community activist, her work coincides with her passion: helping Arizona's Hispanic residents. And to her efforts on their behalf we say, “¡Salud!”