When Rayne Soriano, Ph.D., RN, NE-BC, talks about nursing, he doesn’t just speak about care delivery, he speaks about belonging, equity, and leadership. That’s why his recent induction as a 2025 Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing (ADLN) is such a meaningful milestone.
“This recognition is deeply humbling and personal,” shared Soriano, who serves as Kaiser Permanente Northern California Senior Director for Professional Excellence, Research, and Innovation and President of AONL Hawai‘i. “It represents the collective effort of countless nurses and leaders who believe that compassionate, equitable care begins with how we care for one another.”
The ADLN Fellowship is a national recognition honoring nurse leaders who have advanced justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through education, research, policy, and practice. For Soriano, this honor reflects decades of work leading systems-level initiatives that integrate Caring Science, equity-centered leadership, and culturally grounded workforce development.
Soriano credits Kaiser Permanente for shaping his leadership journey. “After 28 years here, Kaiser Permanente has empowered me to align my personal mission with our organizational vision. Through our Professional Excellence and Research programs, I’ve had the privilege of helping create environments where inquiry, healing, and belonging thrive.”
The formal induction ceremony will take place this December in New York City, where Soriano will join other national nursing leaders including Kaiser Permanente’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Greg Adams.
The award is both a celebration and a call to action, he says, “to keep mentoring emerging nurse leaders and ensuring every caregiver, student, and patient feels seen, valued, and supported.”
Congratulations, Rayne!