Being a woman, more so a woman leader, entails a confident grace and assertive power that not only inspires herself but also the people she leads, and Dr. Nerissa Mendoza Gerial is the embodiment of a true woman leader.
Dr. Nerissa Mendoza Gerial graduated from St. Jude College and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. With her fervor to broaden and strengthen her knowledge in nursing, she took her Master’s in Hospital Administration at the University of the Philippines-Manila.
Her passion for nursing and leadership then became more evident as she finished the highest level of academic qualification at St. Paul University and became a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education, with a Major in Leadership and Management.
Over the years that she served as an exceptional nurse, she has proven that it takes grit, passion, perseverance, patience, and dedication to be able to achieve making an impactful difference in the lives of others. With countless achievements and awards that have come to fruition due to her relentless spirit and astounding leadership in the field of nursing, Dr. Gerial continuously soars high.
She has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World because of her contribution to the nursing profession by the Filipina Women’s Network in Paris, France. Moreover, she was named one of the Most Iconic Women in Quezon City by the Quezon City Gender and Development Council through the office of the Honorable Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte and the Quezon City Tourism Department during the Women’s Month Celebration. She was also given the Outstanding Cost-Effective Officer (CEO) Award by the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) of the Philippines.
In 2021, she was accorded with High Commendation Trophy given by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI) for her contributions in improving patient safety and quality. Moreover, the peri-Operative Registered Nurses Association of the Philippines (ORNAP) bestowed Dr. Gerial the highest Consuelo Gomez Arabit Award, and she also became one of the Philippine Civil Service Commission 2021 Outstanding PAGASA Awardees for exemplary performance, innovative ideas, and extraordinary accomplishments in healthcare under group category, especially during the time of pandemic. Recently, she has been awarded the 2022 University of the Philippines Distinguished Alumna Award in Nursing Practice and Advocacy.
Ever the trailblazer and pride of the nursing profession in the Philippines, Dr. Nerissa Mendoza Gerial, Deputy Executive Director for Nursing Services at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), the Founding President of the Urologic Nurses Association of the Philippines (URONAP) and Transplant Nurses Association of the Philippines (TNAP);the Vice President of the Society of Nursing Leaders of the Philippines (SNLP); and Department of Health Chief Nurses Association (DOHCNA);a Board of Director of Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) Zone 3 and Chairperson of PNA National; Department of Nursing Services and Past President of the Rotary Club of Chinatown Circle, was recognized by the 2023 ASIA CEO AWARDS as a Circle of Excellence – WOMAN LEADER OF THE YEAR.
ASIA CEO AWARDS promotes leadership excellence and team building within organizations and displays Filipino accomplishments to the world’s business leaders. More than 700 nominations were received from the nation’s most important organizations and leaders. The Circle of Excellence awardees are the best of these, chosen for their out-sized contributions to the nation’s development and opportunities for Filipinos. Selected by the Board of Judges from the large number of nominations received, these remarkable people are building organizations from scratch and helping shape the nation along the way.
Other Women Leader of the Year Awardees were Ms. Abigail Del Rosario, Country Director of Maybank; Ms. Annalyn Cuisia, CEO and Founder of Traxion Tech; Ms. Cosette Canilao, President and CEO, Aboitiz Infra Capital; Ms. Divine Gomez, Partner-BPO, Talent IBM Business Services; Ms. Grace Vera Cruz, Country Head of Grab Philippines; Ms. Haidee Country President of AstraZeneca; Ms. Rhodora Campos, Country Head of Infosys BPM; Ms. Marilene Acosta, CEO of Pag-Ibig Fund; Ms. Rosemarie Rafael, Chairperson and CEO of Airspeed Group, and Ms. Tonichi Pareck, Vice President of Concentrix.
Big companies and conglomerates in the Philippines such as Shell, Aboitiz Land, BPI, HSBC, SEDA Hotels, ALASKA, CONCENTRIX, Nestle Philippines, Securities and Exchange Commission, Robinsons Malls, SM Supermalls, Gardenia, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Maya, CONVERGE, Embiggen, Dyson, GOtyme, Wipro, COCOLIFE, CGI, Asian Hospital, AIRSPEED, DATAMATICS, FILINVEST LAND, Procter and Gamble, Manila Water, LANDBANK, Jobstreet, PAO Department of Justice and others, are some of the awardees.
On October 24, 2023, the elite of the nation were each awarded at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Manila to commemorate ASIA CEO AWARDS 2023, the largest celebration of leadership excellence in Southeast Asia, which was organized by its Chairman, Mr. Richard Mills. Awardees are chosen for their achievements and contributions, and Dr. Nerissa Gerial, a woman leader in every sense of the word, has flourished with all her distinctions and accolades dedicated to the nursing practice.
Dr. Nerissa Gerial’s leadership is indeed remarkable, and it shows in her every endeavor. From clinical duties to countless seminars and conferences she’s been invited to speak in, locally and internationally; from leadership and management trainings to research and continuous quality improvement initiatives, Dr. Gerial’s massive impact is profound and unlike any other. She is a force to be reckoned with, and her influence distinguishes her as a woman leader both in the nursing field and in her own right.