Originally published February 1, 2014 at 8:12 p.m., updated February 1, 2014 at 8:12 p.m.

During a student internship at the Texas Nursing Association in Austin, Angelica Ybarra witnessed the impact nursing leaders could make at the state level.

Less than a year after graduating from the University of Houston-Victoria School of Nursing, Ybarra is now one of those leaders. She is director of clinical advocacy in the Division of Public Health and Medical Education at the Texas Medical Association in Austin.

Ybarra learned about the position through an online advertisement. While she wasn't actively looking for a new job, the title caught her attention.

"When I read the job description, I felt compelled to apply," she said. "I thought the role and responsibilities of being the director of clinical advocacy aligned with my nursing and health care expertise as well as my career preferences."

Ybarra graduated from UHV in spring 2013 with a Master of Science in Nursing. She was chosen by the university's School of Nursing faculty as that semester's outstanding graduate student.

"Ms. Ybarra's high-profile job validates the quality the faculty saw in her while she was a student," said Kathryn Tart, dean of the UHV School of Nursing. "The newest data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reports that 100 percent of our master's degree nurse administration alumni are gainfully employed. We are very proud of the work our graduates are doing."

The Texas Medical Association is the largest state medical society in the nation. The association's Division of Public Health and Medical Education focuses on public health, and scientific and patient safety issues, emphasizing areas in which high-quality medical care and scientific expertise can benefit Texans.

"My position provides me the opportunity to make a difference in health care by advocating for physicians and their practices, which, in turn, impacts patient care delivery statewide," Ybarra said. "My favorite thing about the job is being in a position to empower physicians with information that can help them improve their clinical effectiveness and quality of care."

One task Ybarra is involved with is preparing physicians for payment reimbursement challenges. She explained health care payment models are transitioning from traditional fee-for-service pay structures to value-based reimbursement. A value-based system rewards medical providers who provide quality care with higher reimbursement payments. For instance, medical providers who improve population health outcomes for patients with diabetes or other chronic medical conditions and reduce health care costs may be rewarded with incentives and higher payments.

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UHV alumna steps into job advocating for Texas physicians