Local Hero: Dr. Arielle Banks

Nominee Name: Dr. Arielle Banks, DNP, FNP-C
Title: Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare in Action

About Dr. Arielle Banks

Dr. Arielle Banks, DNP, FNP-C (she/her) is a Family Nurse Practitioner dedicated to advancing health equity. Her clinical experience spans medical-surgical care for adults and children, primary care, and aesthetic/dermatology services. While practicing at Federally Qualified Health Centers in South Los Angeles, Dr. Banks spearheaded the launch of a street medicine program, bringing healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness. Building on that work, she now serves as a Primary Care Provider with Healthcare in Action, a dedicated street medicine organization providing compassionate care to unhoused populations across Los Angeles.

In 2020, following the George Floyd protests, Dr. Banks organized the Atlanta Nurses for Black Lives march, mobilizing hundreds of healthcare professionals in solidarity with racial justice and health equity. After the devastating Los Angeles fires, she galvanized her network and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. sisters to collect and donate thousands of essential items and funds for displaced families and survivors. She has also been featured on podcasts and panels addressing healthcare disparities, social determinants of health, and her experiences as a Black Nurse Practitioner.

Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Banks is an active community advocate, global traveler, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a dog mom to a poodle named Cashew. She continues to champion equitable, high-quality healthcare for all, with a mission to transform access and outcomes for communities most often left behind.