Three members of the leadership team of the Filipino Nursing Diaspora (FiND) Network have been named to Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025 list, an annual global ranking that highlights the most cited and impactful scholars in their respective fields. This milestone not only celebrates individual achievement but also underscores the collective strength of FiND’s leadership bench, with its influence extending across research, education, and health systems worldwide.
The recognition honors Professor Violeta Lopez, PhD, RN, FACN, Associate Professor Jed Montayre, PhD, RN, and Research Fellow Joemer Maravilla, PhD, RN. Their inclusion reflects both career-long contributions and recent impact in advancing nursing science, public health, and interdisciplinary scholarship.
Professor Lopez, current President of the FiND Network, holds adjunct appointments at Central Queensland University and Holy Angel University. With decades of contributions to nursing research, education, and leadership development, she has long been recognized as a global thought leader. Her work has elevated Filipino nursing on the international stage, bridging research excellence with diaspora advocacy.
Dr. Montayre, President-elect of FiND Network and Associate Professor at The Hongkong Polytechnic University, has advanced research in gerontology, aging, and migrant health. His scholarly work has been influential in shaping culturally inclusive health practices, particularly in addressing the needs of migrant and aging populations in Asia and beyond.
Dr. Maravilla, FiND’s Director for Research and a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, has focused his research on population health, health policy, and adolescent well-being. His contributions to large-scale public health research projects reflect the global scope of his work and its impact on advancing health equity.
The significance of the Top 2% Scientists list lies in its rigor. Compiled with Scopus data by Stanford University and Elsevier, the ranking identifies the top 100,000 scientists worldwide or those who rank in the top two percent of their subfield. Metrics include citation counts, h-index, co-authorship, and both career-long and single-year impact. With only a fraction of scholars making the cut across 22 broad fields and 176 subfields, inclusion is a marker of global influence and scholarly credibility.
For FiND, this recognition reinforces its mission of advancing Filipino nurses as leaders in research and practice across the globe. Dr. Jerome Babate, Executive Director of FiND Network, said: “This recognition exemplifies the depth of leadership bench strength within FiND Network. With Professor Lopez, Dr. Montayre, and Dr. Maravilla on the world’s Top 2% Scientists list, we are reminded that Filipino nurses are not only shaping patient care but also generating the research and knowledge that influence global health systems. This milestone affirms that our leaders stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most influential scientists.”
The three FiND leaders join other Filipino nurses—four based in the Philippines and four from the diaspora—who were also recognized in this year’s ranking. Their collective presence signals the growing visibility of Filipino nurse researchers on the international stage. It highlights the Philippines as not only a source of skilled nursing labor but also a hub of scientific knowledge and innovation.
The recognition also has implications for future generations of nurses. The achievements of Lopez, Montayre, and Maravilla provide powerful role models for young Filipino nurses who aspire to careers in research and academia. Their success demonstrates that with perseverance, mentorship, and global collaboration, Filipino nurses can excel in knowledge development at the highest levels.
FiND Network has long championed the integration of research with advocacy, providing platforms for Filipino nurses to engage in scholarship, leadership, and professional development. This new milestone aligns perfectly with FiND’s broader goals of amplifying Filipino nursing voices and influencing health systems through evidence-based strategies.
Beyond citations and rankings, the achievement of these leaders reflects a deeper narrative. It is about resilience in navigating global academic spaces, the bayanihan spirit of collective success, and the commitment to improving health outcomes through science. Their inclusion in the world’s Top 2% Scientists list is both a celebration and a call to action: to continue investing in Filipino nursing research, mentoring new scholars, and ensuring that Filipino contributions are recognized in shaping global health.
As Filipino nurses around the world celebrate this achievement, the recognition of Lopez, Montayre, and Maravilla serves as a beacon. It reminds the global community that Filipino nurses are more than frontline caregivers—they are innovators, researchers, and leaders who drive health knowledge forward.
