Internal medicine physician Audrey Sue Cruz, MD, will receive the STEAM Badge for her inspirational work toward the advancement of women and girls in healthcare
Intermountain Health’s Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz is one of seven honorees who will be recognized at the highly anticipated 2023 Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada annual fundraising gala Dessert Before Dinner. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.
An internal medicine physician, Dr. Cruz is the first Filipina-American doctor chosen by Mattel as one of their “Barbie Role Models” and has a limited-edition Barbie replicated after her.
“I am truly honored to be one of seven people recognized by the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada in this way,” said Cruz. “I know how important it is to have positive role models in life and have made it my mission to empower the next generation.”
Each honoree receives a Girl Scout badge, which are traditionally earned by Girl Scouts after exploring an interest and learning a skill toward that interest. Each badge a Girl Scout collects toward that interest makes them subject matter experts, which aims to inspire them to further explore that topic. Dr. Cruz is receiving the badge for STEAM, an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.
“Dessert Before Dinner provides us with an incredible opportunity to recognize individuals who have truly paved the way in our community,” said Kimberly Trueba, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada. “We are proud to honor Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz for her exceptional achievements and commitment to creating a better future for our girls in Southern Nevada and girls everywhere.”
The honorees for this year’s gala and the badges they are receiving:
Agent of Change: Nikki Fargas – Las Vegas Aces, President
Take Action: Astrid Silva – Clark County School District, UNIFY Director
Ambassador of the Arts: Crystal Robinson-Wesley – Palms Casino Resort, Vice President of Entertainment and Activations
Power of Community: Wendy Hornbuckle – Philanthropist
STEAM: Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz – Intermountain Health, Internal Medicine Physician
Man Enough to Be a Girl Scout: John Mowbray and Jack Hanifan – Representing The Frias Legacy
Dessert Before Dinner brings well-deserved recognition to distinguishable women in Southern Nevada who have made significant trailblazing strides toward the advancement of women and girls in an array of fields including sports, philanthropy, technology, entertainment, medicine, and education.
“Throughout her career, Dr. Cruz has been respected widely as a role model and mentor, and this recognition further solidifies her impact on this and future generations,” said Dr. Cara Camiolo, Region Chief Medical Officer for Intermountain Health. “We are thrilled for Dr. Cruz to receive this honor and proud that she cares for patients at Intermountain Health.”
The annual fundraising gala directly impacts local Girl Scouts who depend upon philanthropic dollars to experience personal development and wellness skills, experiences such as STEAM and camp, entrepreneurship opportunities, and life skills including leadership and advocacy. The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada raises funds through Dessert Before Dinner gala ticket sales, program advertisements, sponsorships, and the proceeds from a silent and live auction.
For more information on purchasing tickets or program advertisements for Dessert Before Dinner, please visit www.dessertbeforedinner.org.
For more information about Intermountain Health, please visit www.intermountainnv.org.
About Intermountain Health
With locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit healthcare system comprised of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with 3,800 employed physicians and advanced practice providers, and a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.
About Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
Founded on April 14, 1932 in Boulder City, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada (GSSNV) is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. GSSNV focuses on four key pillars: STEAM Education, Outdoor Experiences, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship. GSSNV serves the four Southern-most counties in Nevada: Clark, Lincoln, Nye, & Esmeralda, as well as the Southern California counties of Inyo and San Bernardino (eastern border).
