Maria Victoria Juan, a Consultant at the Philippine Army Health Services and Colonel in the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has won the prestigious Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024.  

This international recognition underscores her exceptional contributions to the field of nursing and her unwavering commitment to patient care.    

Juan was awarded the prize for her significant contributions to healthcare during her career. She pioneered the first aeromedical evacuation system in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, enhancing survival rates through rapid casualty evacuation and early treatment in conflict zones.  

She has also been in involved in an environmental health project which used vetiver grass technology to combat soil erosion and water pollution.  

Further, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she organised the Endurun Mega Swabbing Center, training medical swabbers and conducting nearly 500,000 tests, a major boost to the country’s pandemic response. 

On top of this, Juan also completed a rigorous 9-month aeromedical training program while serving as Chief Nurse, despite a fear of flying and deepwater swimming. 

In accepting the award, Juan said that “[a]s a military nurse from the Philippines, my journey has been defined by a steadfast commitment to service—whether caring in combat zones, disaster-stricken areas, or underserved communities, and championing advocacies on every platform to create positive change.”  

“This recognition reflects not just my efforts, but also the courage and honour of the soldiers I proudly serve alongside and the resilience of the Filipino people that inspire me daily,” she continued. 

The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, launched in 2021 by Aster DM Healthcare, aims to spotlight the vital contributions of nurses worldwide. This award recognises nurses who have made significant contributions to patient care, research, and education. 

This year’s edition received a record 78,000 applications from 202 countries.