# Dr. Alicia Garcia-Cisneros

> Dr. Alicia Garcia-Cisneros is a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse Executive, and Certified Caritas Coach serving as Chief Nurse Executive at Valley State Prison within California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS). Born to Hispanic migrant agricultural workers, she climbed from Certified Nursing Assistant to the highest levels of nursing leadership over two decades, championing caring science, peer support programs, and staff wellness inside California's correctional health system.

- **Role:** Chief Nurse Executive at California Correctional Health Care Services (Valley State Prison)
- **Organizations:** California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Stanford Health Care ValleyCare, Good Samaritan Hospital - San Jose, CA, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) / ELDNP - Nurse Executive Leadership, University of San Francisco, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Not specified, Bachelor of Science in Nursing / Registered Nurse (RN), Not specified
- **Known for:** CCHCS Distinguished Practice Award (May 2026) - recognizes staff whose professional contributions improved nursing practice, Nurse Executive Advanced Board Certified (NEA-BC) - advanced credential for senior nursing leaders, Certified Caritas Coach trained in Dr. Jean Watson's Human Caring Theory

## Career timeline

- **Early career** — Began as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- **Mid career** — Advanced to Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
- **After ~10 years** — Earned Registered Nurse (RN) credential; worked in stage IV cancer oncology unit
- **Pre-2018** — Served as Director of Nursing, Maternal Child at Stanford Health Care ValleyCare
- **Pre-2018** — Held leadership roles at Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, CA
- **Pre-2018** — Leadership at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System
- **2018-2019** — Completed DNP at University of San Francisco with Nurse Executive Leadership focus
- **Early 2023** — Joined CDCR/CCHCS at Correctional Training Facility, Soledad
- **June 2023** — Transferred to Valley State Prison as Chief Nurse Executive
- **May 2026** — Received CCHCS Distinguished Practice Award at Nursing Excellence Awards during National Nurses Week

## Achievements

- CCHCS Distinguished Practice Award (May 2026) - recognizes staff whose professional contributions improved nursing practice
- Nurse Executive Advanced Board Certified (NEA-BC) - advanced credential for senior nursing leaders
- Certified Caritas Coach trained in Dr. Jean Watson's Human Caring Theory
- 20+ years of nursing leadership experience across acute care and correctional health settings
- Led establishment of staff wellness rooms at Valley State Prison
- Championed Peer Support Specialist Program within CCHCS
- Implemented Shared Governance in nursing practice at Valley State Prison
- Developed nursing protocols with multidisciplinary teams at CCHCS
- Director of Nursing, Maternal Child at Stanford Health Care ValleyCare
- DNP from University of San Francisco - Executive Leadership program

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Received CCHCS Distinguished Practice Award at the Nursing Excellence Awards ceremony in Elk Grove during National Nurses Week (May 15, 2026).
- **2026-05** — Helped organize a staff appreciation event at Valley State Prison recognizing Correctional Officers Week, Nurses Week, and Public Service Recognition Week.
- **2023-12** — Featured in a staff profile by CDCR's Inside CDCR publication as Valley State Prison's Chief Nurse Executive.

## Links

- Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alicia-garcia-dnp-msn-rn-nea-bc-caritas-coach%C2%AE%EF%B8%8F-75774757/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/alicia-dnp
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-31