By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Congratulations to Centralian Dr. Jonathan Gapilango (CPU-CON, Batch 1993) for being named among the TOFA100 Most Influential Filipinos in the World, honoring his distinguished leadership, nursing excellence, and global advocacy for health equity. We are so proud of you!
Central Philippine University (CPU) alumnus Dr. Jonathan Gapilango, who graduated from the College of Nursing in 1993, is among the distinguished TOFA100 Most Influential Filipinos in the World, presented by The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA). Now in its 15th year, TOFA continues to spotlight Filipino leaders whose achievements resonate across communities, both locally and globally.
Recognized in the category “Distinguished Nurse Leader, Educator, and Advocacy for Health Equity,” Dr. Gapilango currently serves as Administrative Director of Oncology Performance Measures and Accreditation at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health. He also chairs the Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey (PNANJ).
From 2018 to 2023, he served as a National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) surveyor, breaking ground as the first Filipino registered nurse and one of only two nurses among 42 physicians to be appointed to this role in the United States.
CPU proudly highlights further milestones from his career: he was honored by the New Jersey State Nurses Association as an outstanding professional at the Divas and Dons Gala in April 2024. In 2018, he was named Nurse Administrator of the Year by the Philippine Nurses Association of America and previously received the Research Nurse of the Year award, a PNAA Foundation Fellowship, and a research grant for his study on the impact of nurse navigation on newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
Adding to his achievements, he earned the 2024–2025 Doctorate Degree Scholarship from the Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (NEF) for his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) studies at Thomas Edison State University in New Jersey.
Notably, Dr. Gapilango continues to serve CPU as an adjunct online professor at the College of Nursing, mentoring current students even while fulfilling leadership roles overseas.
In a message to Nurses’ Notes Publication, the official media outlet of CPU College of Nursing, Dr. Gapilango emphasized: “Embrace your journey with passion and purpose. This profession is a powerful platform to enact change and improve lives. You belong in this field, and your unique perspectives and experiences are invaluable. As you navigate your path, I encourage you to seek God’s guidance in all that you do. Pray for wisdom, strength, and clarity in your decisions. Remember that every challenge is an opportunity, and every step you take brings you closer to achieving your goals.”
The 15th Annual TOFA Awards Gala, where Dr. Gapilango will be formally recognized, is scheduled for October 17 at the Orleans Showroom, hosted by the renowned television personality Dr. Boy Abunda, in celebration of Filipino-American History Month.
