Dr. Jose Arnold Tariga is a transformative nursing educator and global health advocate whose mission was sparked by his own early struggles navigating bias as a highly qualified, non-Western trained nurse entering the U.S. healthcare system.

Turning adversity into action, he developed the groundbreaking International Transition to Practice Program (ITPP) — a model now shaping how internationally educated nurses bridge clinical, cultural, and communication gaps.

From designing rapid upskilling modules during COVID-19 to challenging systemic inequities in nursing education, his work has elevated standards, improved retention, and expanded access.

Prior to his move to the USA, Dr. Tariga spent over 9 years in the UAE, driving education and training for staff at multiple organizations, delivering lectures and workshops recognized by the Department of Health.