Dr. Rhigel Alforque Tan, PhD, DNP, MSN, RN, APRN-CNP, ANP, GNP, PMHNP, FAANP, FAAN, is a triple-specialty, dual-doctoral-prepared nurse practitioner, nurse scientist, educator, and internationally recognized healthcare policy leader. He serves as Associate Professor in Residence and Director of the DNP and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, while maintaining clinical practice at iCarePsychiatry.

As the first Asian and Filipino American elected President of the Nevada State Board of Nursing, serving three consecutive terms, Dr. Tan helped advance transformative APRN legislation. His advocacy supported AB170 (2013), establishing full practice authority, and SB227 (2017), expanding APRN clinical and signature authority. His regulatory legacy contributed to AB91 (2021), securing permanent APRN representation. Following these reforms, Nevada’s APRN workforce expanded over 800%, from 760 in 2012 to more than 6,900 in 2025, reflecting sustained growth in advanced practice nursing.

Internationally, Dr. Tan championed a multifaceted, systems-based approach to reducing mental health stigma in the Philippines. His advocacy contributed to Cebu City’s pioneering mental health ordinance and national policy efforts culminating in Republic Act No. 11036 (2018), the Philippines’ first Mental Health Act of the entire country, establishing a nationwide framework for mental healthcare access and rights protection for over 110 million Filipinos.

His commitment to sustainable professional advancement includes developing the internationally published TAN-LEADS Scale™ and founding the Filipino American Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Association of Nevada (2013), now approaching 150 members, advancing APRN mentorship, leadership, and advocacy.

His distinctions include FAAN (2019), FAANP (2026), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Faculty Fellowship recognition, the 2026 Ten Outstanding Global Nurse Award, Nevada nursing lifetime achievement honors, the 2019 Outstanding Filipino in America Healthcare Award, and the 2026 Academy of Diverse Leaders in Nursing Fellowship. Las Vegas proclaimed July 15, “Dr. Rhigel Alforque Tan Day.”