Meet Your Provider: Maria Morales, DNP, APN, FNP-C

Nurse practitioner Maria Morales, DNP, APN, FNP-C, may be new to Zufall Health, but she already feels she has found a workplace where she can make the greatest impact.

From a young age, Morales saw how health care could feel out of reach for people. After moving from Colombia to the U.S. at eight years old, she often translated for her mother during medical appointments, witnessing firsthand how language, insurance, and health literacy barriers interfere with access to care. That experience shaped her commitment to becoming a provider who helps patients navigate the same challenges her family once faced.

“Health care is a basic right,” says Morales, who joined Zufall in fall 2024 with 10 years of clinical and health care management experience. “At a community health center, where care is available to everyone, I can be the advocate my parents needed but never had.”

Many of Morales’ patients face barriers, and she strives to be a trusted partner in their care. By focusing on prevention, early intervention, and education, she helps them take control of their health. Her goal is not just to treat illness but to empower patients with knowledge and resources, reducing hospital visits and improving long-term outcomes.

She says her work is met with gratitude. “I regularly see tears of happiness and receive hugs. Hearing a patient say ‘thank you’ is priceless and worth every second I spend with them.”

To those considering a career in primary care at Zufall, Morales emphasizes the importance of teamwork. “We have an incredible team-oriented approach,” she says. “That kind of support is crucial not only for staff but for patient safety and quality care.”

Morales holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Felician University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Rutgers University. She also earned a doctor of nursing practice degree with a specialty in family medicine from Rutgers and is board-certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.