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National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15, is a time to recognize the remarkable contributions of the Hispanic community. While famous names such as Sonia Sotomayor, Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, and Jennifer Lopez coming to mind, it is essential to acknowledge the unsung heroes — individuals who quietly and selflessly dedicate themselves to making the world a better place. Teresa Baltuano-Post, RN, is one such person, committed to the service of others and inspiring those around her through our mission, vision, and values at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center (PWMC) in Manassas, Virginia.

Early Aspirations

Teresa's journey began in a small town in northwest Peru, where, even as a little girl, she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Receiving her RN degree from nursing school in Peru, she embarked on her career as a public health nurse, focusing primarily on mothers and babies.         

Her work took her to impoverished and underserved areas surrounding the capital city of Lima, as well as rural regions where access to healthcare was limited. Here, Teresa tirelessly educated mothers and children about healthy habits, breastfeeding skills, children’s health, vaccinations, and disease prevention. 

Lifelong Passion

Upon arriving in the United States, Teresa continued to pursue her dream of nursing. She initially became a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) peer counselor and a lactation consultant. After her youngest child started kindergarten, she took the Nursing State Boards (NCLEX) so she could practice in the United States.

While working at UVA Health PWMC, she earned her BSN. Teresa has since devoted 25 years of service as a nurse at UVA Health PWMC — bringing deep-rooted passion for nursing and extensive medical expertise to her patients each day. 

Mother of Mercy Clinic

In 2017, Catholic Charities® recognized the pressing need for a clinic focused on obstetrics to serve uninsured and low-income families in Manassas, Virginia. The Mother of Mercy Clinic was established that year, and Teresa was among its first volunteers. Her prior experience positioned her perfectly to help immigrant families in the community.

Like her early days in Peru — she teaches mothers about prenatal care, nutrition, lactation, and more. “Giving health education to expecting parents helps to produce healthier pregnancies and ultimately healthier children.” She has been instrumental from the beginning in recruiting more volunteers to support Mother of Mercy and their mission. 

Educational Showers

Several times a year, Teresa works with Mother of Mercy Director Alex Luevano to plan and host an educational baby shower for eight to 15 expectant moms. Teresa carefully collects and prepares packets of information in Spanish and English. The shower is designed to give information about the birthing process in the hospital, what to expect, what to bring, and additional information on after the baby's arrival.

She organizes volunteers to help her cook and bring in lunch for the shower, decorate the room, and share in the excitement. At the shower, baskets donated by a local church filled with essential baby needs such as wipes, diapers, and shampoos are provided to each mother. Every basket contains hand-knit items made by the volunteers from the church. Teresa secures donations of larger items like car seats and pack-n-plays, which she stores until the need arises.

'Scary and Exciting Time'

Teresa’s smile instantly puts all the women at ease and the group feels like a family from the moment they arrive at the baby showers. “It’s great to see the moms interacting and becoming friends,” she says. “They bond and offer support to one another through the process. They share experiences during this scary and exciting time.”

She encourages all the women to come along for a tour of UVA Health PWMC, where she goes through the process of arrival to delivery with the women step-by-step and in Spanish. She believes receiving guidance in your native language from a familiar and friendly person makes a difference. The next educational shower is held at the Knights of Columbus in Manassas.

Teresa is excited to plan the transition of the baby showers from off-site locations to UVA Health PWMC in the next few months — giving more women the opportunity to join in the educational events.

Pandemic Adaptations

Prior to the pandemic, Teresa helped with pregnant patient care at the Greater Community Health Center in Manassas and now coordinates their tours. She also has served on the Prince William Healthy Families Community Service Board. In addition to her nursing duties at UVA Health PWMC, she's a preceptor for nursing residents in obstetrics, a lactation consultant, and cross-trained in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for intermediate care.

During the pandemic amid safety concerns — in-person classes, birthing center tours, and educational showers were temporarily on hold and classes were moved online. In June 2023, online classes were suspended and in-person service resumed. UVA Health PWMC also offers monthly classes in childbirth and breastfeeding. Teresa gives her time to lead the tours at times that are convenient to the families.

Teresa is just one of the team members who speaks Spanish at UVA Health PWMC, which has a team of cultural ambassadors who are trained medical interpreters, available in all departments for anyone in need of language support.

Empowering and Supporting Expectant Mothers

Teresa’s lifelong dedication to nursing, healthcare education, and community service exemplifies the spirit of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Her tireless efforts to empower and support expectant mothers — especially in the immigrant community — highlight the profound impact that unsung heroes can have on society.

Through her work, Teresa embodies the values of accountability, stewardship, professionalism, integrity, respect, and equity — enriching the lives of countless individuals. Her eternal commitment to nursing and relationships she builds is evident in this picture of her recent trip to Colombia to celebrate with her fellow nursing students at their 40^th anniversary reunion.