
Outstanding Alumni Award
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD

Dr. Alvin Cantero
Clinic founder. Nurse mentor. Volunteer. Leader. Congratulations to Dr. Cantero, our 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient, a committed healthcare professional who walks the walk of social change every day.
Each year, we’re proud to honor a Walden graduate who exemplifies our mission to effect positive social change. Together, this esteemed group of Outstanding Alumni Award recipients represents the best that Walden has to offer—and demonstrates the transformative power of a Walden education—through their exceptional contributions to their professions, disciplines, and society at large.
This year, we celebrate Dr. Alvin Mena Cantero ’17 DNP, ’15 MSN.
A family nurse practitioner in Houston, Dr. Cantero was bothered by the lack of affordable healthcare options for vulnerable populations—including veterans, the elderly, and the unhoused. So he took action.
In 2016, he opened Alvin Clinica Familiar to provide healthcare, disease prevention, and bilingual services to underserved members of the community. He also launched a program to address another critical gap: the nationwide shortage of preceptorships available for aspiring nurse practitioners. Since then, Dr. Cantero has personally mentored nearly 200 students and invested thousands of hours in their clinical education.
He has won numerous awards, including this one, for his leadership and service.