LatinoLeaders - The Health Edition by Latino Leaders

HEALTH EDITION TOP HOSPITALS FOR LATINOS

THE MOST POWERFUL LATINAS IN CORPORATE AMERICA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALPFA AND FORTUNE MAGAZINE

BREAKTHROUGHS IN MEDICINE TOP LATINO PHYSICIANS

DR. DAVID HAYES-BAUTISTA www.latinoleaders.com May / June 2017 Vol. 18 No. 3

THE PROPHET OF LATINO HEALTH

CONTENTS MAY / JUNE 2017

COVER STORY:

DAVID HAYES-BAUTISTA

Health Prophet David Hayes-Bautista talks about the Latino paradox and the general state of health in Latinos. 2 â&#x20AC;¢ May / June 2017

CONTENTS MAY / JUNE 2017 9 Healthcare Policy Event 10 Cancer Treatment Centers Of America

Get to know the Hispanic Advisory Council composed of Latino leaders around the country joining efforts to aide CTCA in reaching the Hispanic community.

SPECIAL FEATURES 12 Top 25 Latinas In Corporate America

Featuring the top 25 Latinas in Corporate America. A selection taken from ALPFA and Fortune Magazine’s original list, Top 50 Most Powerful Latinas.

BELINDA PESTANA

20 Belinda Pestana

Partner and Regional Business Tax Services Leader at EY, Belinda Pestana, gets deep and personal about her success and her leadership at Ernst and Young.

21 Maria Moats- Castañón

U.S. Assurance Leader at PwC, Maria Moats-Castanon, talks leadership, influence, and success.

22 Priscilla Almodovar

Managing Director and Head of Community Development Banking of JP Morgan Chase Bank, shares secrets to become a power Latina.

24 Health Feature

The main feature contains topics relative to the healthcare industry such as medical insurance, the shortage of Latinos in healthcare, a look into the most common illnesses in Latinos, and breakthroughs in medicine. This feature also contains list of Top Latino Physicians and the Top Hospitals for Latinos.

52 Spotlight

Behind the success of trailblazing Latinas Patricia Arvielo, President of New American Funding, and Natalie Boden, CEO of Boden PR Agency.

In Every Magazine 6 Publisher’s Letter 8 Editor’s Letter 56 Cellar

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ALEX HERRERA, M.D.

PATRICIA ARVIELO

JORGE & RAUL FERRAEZ / PRESIDENTS OF FERRAEZ USA

FROM THE DESK OF THE PUBLISHER

We knew David Hayes-Bautista a long time ago and his story and research were impressive since the beginning. We did our first interview with him in 2002 and it was really revealing. I still remember some of the work that would link health issues with the Hispanic community, and the impact of his books still resonates loudly whenever we talk about health and Latinos. We gave Hayes-Bautista a Maestro Award in 2006, and ever since we have kept in touch because we admire and follow his leadership as an author and researcher at UCLA. So when it came time to decide whom we should interview for the cover story, we thought of him. But when we interviewed him, it was evident that the piece was for the cover of our “Latinos in Health” edition. His conclusions and ideas are completely ahead of what anybody would think — a great, enlightened mind. This is our second-ever Health edition. It is not only a great collection of Latinos leading in this industry, but also an excellent snapshot on the “state” of Latino health in the U.S. We spent more than three months researching, consulting and talking to people to be able to put it together. We left many stories unpublished, but we had a lot of great material.

On the other side of this coin, we have another great snapshot that describes the power and influence of the most relevant Latinas today. Based on the great job that ALPFA, led by Charlie Garcia and his team, and Fortune Magazine, the master and pioneer of the Lists, we selected 25 Latinas who were simply amazing in their corporate and entrepreneurial careers. Last May 20th at New York’s Columbia University, ALPFA and Fortune jointly presented a list of their 50 Most Powerful Latinas 2017. In an unprecedented event, two giants in their own fields joined to select a group of talented women who exemplify the potential of Latinas in America. Latino Leaders, as a strategic partner of ALPFA, is proud to be able to present part of this list, which we believe will make history. Our recognition goes to make sure that these women are not overlooked when it comes to bringing a dimension of Latino influence. This is a fantastic edition. Hope you enjoy it!

Jorge & Raul Ferraez

Publisher Jorge Ferraez

President and CEO Raul Ferraez

Director of Journalism Mariana Gutierrez Briones mariana@latinoleaders.com Event and PR Director Rae Kallianpur rae@latinoleaders.com Administrative Director Lawrence Teodoro Managing Editor Sarai Vega svega@latinoleaders.com Business Development Manager Cristina Gonzalez cristina@latinoleaders.com Washington, D.C. Sales Associate and Representative Deyanira Ferraez dferraez@latinoleaders.com Karla Espinoza kespinoza@latinoleaders.com Art Director Fernando Izquierdo ferdiseno@latinoleaders.com Editorial Art & Design Rodrigo Valderrama Carlos Cuevas Luis Enrique González Moisés Cervantes Oswaldo Bernal Guerrero Human Resources Manager Susana Sanchez Administration and Bookkeeping Claudia García Bejarano Executive Assistant to the Publishers Liliana Morales Social Media Manager and Graphic Designer Kenzie Tysl kenzie@latinoleaders.com For advertising inquiries, please call 214-206-4966 x 227.

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino (ISSN 1529-3998) is published seven times annually by Ferraez Publications of America Corp., 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA, May / June 2017. Subscription rates: In U.S. and possessions, one year $15.00. Checks payable to Ferraez Publications of America, 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Latino Leaders, 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA.© 2001 by Ferraez Publications of America Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the consent of Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino. The periodical’s name and logo, and the various titles and headings therein, are trademarks of Ferraez Publications of America Corp.

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Audited by Member of Reg. # 283/01

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6 • May / June 2017

Latino Leaders The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino 15443 Knoll Trail, Suite 210, 75248 Dallas, TX, USA Phone: (214) 206-4966 / Fax: (214) 206-4970

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The healthcare industry has seen a downward plunge in Latino talent. However, this is one of the industries that needs Latinos the most. In this year’s health edition, we recognize top Latino talent in the healthcare industry. But we also analyze some of the most important topics in healthcare. David Hayes-Bautista, who gracefully appears on our cover, discusses the Latino Epidemiological Paradox and the data that proves that Latinos are naturally healthier (pg. 38). He has spent years studying and researching the link between Latino culture and health. Throughout my interviews with this leader, one truth was highlighted often: we need more Latinos in healthcare! The lack of Latinos in all areas of the industry has become a very alarming issue. Fortunately, we’ve met and spoken with experts who are willing to join efforts to create a more diverse industry. You’ll be able to find our entire conversation on pg. 34 (Doctors in the House?). We also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to feature some of the Latinos who are doing big things. Get to know Sara del Valle from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Efrain Talamantes from MiMentor Organization, Dr. Alex Herrera from City of Hope Hospital and others who have highly represented the Latino community in healthcare (pg. 45). We have also included our Latina feature. This is one that I particularly enjoyed. It’s always great to see Latinas reaching the top. Make sure to check out the list of the Top 25 Latinas in Corporate America (pg. 14). These women were selected from the Top 50 Most Powerful Latinas list, compiled by ALPFA and Fortune Magazine. ALPFA and Fortune have done such a great job in selecting these Latinas. We are extremely proud to have such an influential group of Latinas to highlight in this edition. And while we’re on the subject, make sure to flip to our Spotlight section, where we feature two Latina entrepreneurs. Get to know Patricia Arvielo, President at New American Funding, and Natalie Boden, CEO at Boden PR. They talk to us about their journeys, their roots, their risks and what it took to achieve success (pg. 52). Our mission here is to connect you to the leaders of our community. Our job is to deliver stories, to bring you the information and to recognize the work. None of this would be possible without those leaders who chose to fight for their dreams. Sarai Vega Managing Editor Special edition: latinoS in technology & energy

TECHNOLOGY FEATURE:

ENTREPRENEURS, INTERNET OF EVERYTHING AND THE TOP LATINOS IN TECH

WHAT YOU MISSED IN OUR LAST EDITION…

LATINOS IN ENERGY A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE INDUSTRY AND THEIR LEADERS

TOP INSURANCE AGENTS LEADING AGENTS AND COMPANIES IN THE US

1. Get to know last edition’s cover leader, NASA’s Evelyn Miralles, and discover her passion for virtual reality. 2. A view into the energy industry and the Top Latinos in Energy.

NASA’S EVELYN MIRALLES

3. Inside the business of insurance: The Best Insurance Companies for Latinos and the Top Insurance Agents

VIRTUAL REALITY PIONEER FIRST LATINA TO LEAD THE LAB

4. The legacy behind Tomás Rivera, and the making of the play, “Tomás and the Library Lady” 5. A full, comprehensive feature recognizing leading Latinos in Technology.

The world has changed a lot in the past 50 years — we have gone though economic, political and technological transformations. But perhaps the change that has reshaped our culture most is the women’s revolution. Millions of women who were once dependent on men have taken control of their own economic fates, bringing about a dramatic social change. Women are now the fastest growing segment in the United States when it comes to business ownership, and this is due largely to those Latina entrepreneurs who are taking steps every day to materialize their dreams. In corporate America the change has not been as dramatic, as the corporate culture still needs to match up to an economic reality. Women are still struggling to compete with men for the highest positions in their corporations, but more and more female professionals are rising up the ranks. 8 • May / June 2017

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH www.latinoleaders.com March / April 2017 Vol. 18 No. 2 Display until 04/10/2017

Latinos in Technology & Energy: Now Online www.latinoleaders.com/March-April-2017

Among them is a group of trailblazing Latinas who stand out – by leaning on their cultural identities, they bring a unique mix of strength and wisdom. Their efforts have a tremendous impact on their colleagues, workplaces, and ultimately, the culture of the corporations they contribute to. These successes have helped them make their mark and redefine what it means to be a Latina. We have put together a list of truly remarkable leaders, who are not only focusing on growing their impressive careers, but also setting a strong foundation for other generations of Latinas to securely stand on. These are the thought leaders and mentors who are shaping the future of corporate Hispanic leaders. We also want to recognize those corporations that have provided a nurturing environment for their talent to flourish and thrive – and hope others will follow suit and unleash the capabilities of their Hispanic leaders, who may just be waiting for an opportunity to shine. Mariana Gutierrez Briones Co-Editor

The Future of Healthcare Policy Story by: Latino Leaders Staff

Dr. Esteban Lopez, Dr. Elena Rios, Jorge Ferraez

On Wednesday, March 1st 2017, Latino Leaders magazine gathered some of the topleading physicians in the industry to discuss one of the most relevant topics in current times, The Future of Healthcare Policy. Much was discussed through out the evening but the â&#x20AC;&#x153;elephant in the roomâ&#x20AC;? seemed evident, healthcare reform. Esteban Lopez, Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), and Elena Rios, President & CEO of National Hispanic Medical Association in Washington DC, created a dialogue and shared facts and information with the goal to create strategies that will improve the access to healthcare for Latinos and their families. These top Dallas physicians brought to the table some of the most critical concerns and topics within the healthcare industry. The engaging discussion between experts, physicians, and other leaders brought to the surface one common conclusion: We are all in search the solution that will benefit all.

Karin Larrave, Maria Mendez

Dr. Elena Rios

Cristina Valdez, MD

Find more events online! Carlos E Pancorvo, MD and Raymond Munoz, MD

www.latinoleaders.com

Victor Gonzalez, MD

CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA®

AT THE FOREFRONT OF HISPANICS AND CANCER CANCER IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS RISING AT AN ALARMING RATE. U.S. CENSUS BUREAU DATA ESTIMATES THAT IT ACCOUNTS FOR 22 PERCENT OF DEATHS IN THE U.S. HISPANIC POPULATION, MAKING THE INCIDENCE OF CANCER THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AND AN ISSUE IN DIRE NEED OF ATTENTION.

(LEFT TO RIGHT) REV. LUIS CORTÉS, DR. FERNANDO GARCIA, MICHAEL MYERS

(LEFT TO RIGHT) ROBYN THANEY, ELENA ROMAN, TONY ASTORGA, DR. CYNTHIA LYNCH, MARISA BENINCASA, ERNEST CALDERÓN, REV. LUIS CORTÉS

n order to increase awareness of early detection and the latest in treatments, Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) has created the Hispanic Advisory Council (HAC). This group of influential business and medical leaders is tasked with engaging and educating Hispanic cancer patients, caregivers and their families by sharing insights, experiences and resources.

Council members represent a diverse repertoire of highly respected organizations and influential leaders from industries that include business, health care, philanthropy and community advocacy,’’ said Rev. Luis Cortés, the HAC’s first chairman and president and CEO of Esperanza, an organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic communities through education, economic development and advocacy. As part of its national outreach efforts, the HAC has held thought leader forums in major cities across the country in order to share what cancer is, how to prevent it and treatment options available. The forums, better known as Por Vida events, create conversations about local community educational and awareness efforts in the fight against cancer.

10 • May - June 2017

HAC meetings feature clinicians who discuss inroads in cancer research and prevention. Perhaps the most poignant part of the HAC meetings, though, is the exchange between Latino CTCA® patients and Council members. These stories are filled with anecdotes that tout the excellent care provided by CTCA care teams, from nurses and physicians to nutritionists and pain specialists. “It has been a learning experience. We have found a community that is far behind in both knowledge and access to quality health care,’’ said Cortés. “Our hope is to close that gap as quickly and efficiently as possible and to increase cancer prevention and treatment awareness among Hispanic families.” Dr. Elena Rios, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), said she has been impressed with Latino patients’ positive feedback about the supportive experience for patients and their families at CTCA, as well as the cultural understanding by CTCA physicians and staff. Through her role, Rios brings influential CTCA speakers to NHMA’s annual conference with the goal of engaging in dialogue about how to continue to educate and empower Latino physicians and their patients.

Story by: Chriss

Swaney | Photos: Courtesy of CTCA

HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL Other HAC members remain active and are taking several approaches to reach various Hispanic communities. Javier Palomarez, president of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), said the HAC is focused on using data and information to shed light on the cultural norms, nuances and behavioral changes in the Hispanic population. “It’s about helping the community better cope with the complexities of cancer,” said Palomarez, who was extremely impressed when CTCA had its patients attend the HAC meetings. “When you consider that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, you realize the true magnitude of the problem. I commend CTCA for its willingness to convene this Council. The leadership of the council is truly life-changing. HAC member Gisela Girard, president of Creative Civilization, a San Antonio/Austin based marketing communications firm, remarks on the extraordinary experiences the HAC has provided her with. She has been especially touched by meeting numerous Hispanic cancer survivors and their caregivers. “All of us are affected by cancer—my mother, my husband’s mother, my cousin and friends. Whether it is directly or someone we know and love, we must address this disease beginning with prevention, early detection and treatment options,” said Girard. “I am proud to be part of the HAC because we are embarking on initiatives with a commitment to help our Hispanic community and save lives.’’ Girard also notes that one of the main goals behind the HAC is to stimulate a dialogue about cancer. “As we see the statistics on cancer diagnoses among Hispanics rise, the goal of the Council is to bring the conversation about cancer to our families and our communities,’’ according to Girard. “The most significant impact we can make is to talk about it, encourage each other to take preventative measures and modify our lifestyle with healthy eating, physical activity and taking charge of our health,’’ Girard said. Because the Hispanic community is especially vulnerable to cancer and has lower levels of knowledge about options, diagnostics and insurance coverage options, Jorge Ferraez, founder and publisher of Latino Leaders Magazine, is adamant about further developing awareness. “You have some of the most talented, well connected and committed people from the Hispanic community serving as Council members,’’ Ferraez said. “We must inspire influential individuals to spread the message to their communities.” HAC members are passionate and strongly committed when it comes to getting the word out about cancer awareness and the ongoing work at CTCA, where quality cancer care is provided through a national network of five leading hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. In April 2015, CTCA also opened its first referral clinic in Mexico City. In addition, CTCA created the Mexican Physician Network, a group of leading oncologists that helps patients navigate their medical system and assists with necessary documentation for referring patients to the United States. To learn more about HAC events, follow the conversation on Twitter via #CTCAPorVida.

Ricardo Alvarez, M.D.

Director of Cancer Research and Breast Medical Oncologist Cancer Treatment Centers of America Newnan, GA

Juan Alzate, M.D.

Neurosurgeon Cancer Treatment Centers of America Zion, IL

Tony Astorga

Chairman Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation Phoenix, AZ

Ernest Calderón

Partner Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold, LLP Phoenix, AZ

Rev. Luis Cortés

President and Chief Executive Officer Esperanza Philadelphia, PA

Jorge Ferraez

Publisher Latino Leaders Magazine Dallas, TX

Gisela Girard

President Creative Civilization San Antonio/Austin, TX

Javier Palomarez

President and Chief Executive Officer United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Washington, D.C.

Elena Rios, M.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer National Hispanic Medical Association Washington, D.C.

“OUR HOPE IS TO CLOSE THAT GAP AS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO INCREASE CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT AWARENESS AMONG HISPANIC FAMILIES.” - REV. LUIS CORTÉS

xxxxxxx

For more information, visit www.cancercenter.com

Top Latinas in Corporate America What makes these powerful Latinas powerful? Introduction by : Pablo Schneider

T IS A PRIVILEGE and a pleasure to know many of the leaders in this issue’s Top 25 Latinas in Corporate America list, most of whom were recognized at ALPFA’s 50 Most Powerful Latinas of 2017 event hosted at Columbia University last month. Taking a step back and thinking about what makes them powerful, several types of power come to mind. There is the power of the positions they hold ranging from corporate board seats, to senior executive roles, to leadership in professional firms, to the ownership of companies, etc. There is the power of professional capabilities, of expertise, skills and knowledge. Indeed, these Latina leaders have a breathtaking breadth and depth of professional capabilities across career disciplines, sectors, and geographic areas, etc. There is the power of their personal influence. These awesome Latinas are super-connected and highly influential among the top leadership of America. There is the power of personal brand, of reputation, and of positive notoriety. These have been painstakingly built throughout their entire careers and all of the Latinas on this list are known nationally for their extraordinary excellence.

ON MAY 20th, The Association of Latino Professional for America (ALPFA) and Fortune Magazine, presented a great compilation of the 50 Most Powerful Latinas for 2017. Because Latino Leaders is a strategic partner of ALPFA, we would like to promote the fantastic job they have done in putting this list together for the very first time. In the following pages you will find our own selection of most outstanding Latinas in corporate America. A group of authentic leaders, talented executives, and venturous women that have set a very high standard for Latinas to follow. In the spirit of contributing to inspire many other to follow, this is our tribute to them.

Congratulations!

12 • May / June 2017

Courtesy of Mellon Capital

Gabriela Franco Parcella Chairman, President and CEO, Mellon Capital (BNY Mellon Corp.)

GABRIELA FRANCO PARCELLA is the Chairman, President and CEO of Mellon Capital, where she provides strategic leadership to all areas of the firm, and chairs the Board of Directors. With 22 years of financial services, legal, operations, risk, and regulatory experience, she has been a key contributor to Mellon Capital’s international expansion. Parcella is the founder of the San Francisco Region Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) and is a Trustee and Chair of the Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco Board. She is also a life member of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America). She received her JD from Stanford Law School, and her MPA from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Adriana Cisneros CEO, Cisneros

Rob Tannenbaum Photography, Inc.

CEO and President, PG&E Corporation

Maria Moats U.S. Assurance Leader, PwC

MARIA MOATS is the U.S. Assurance Leader of PwC, where she serves as a member of the U.S. Leadership Team and the Global Assurance Executive Leadership Team. With extensive experience with retail, consumer, and industrial product clients, she previously served as PwC’s Regional Assurance Leader for the East Region, overseeing operations from Boston to Florida. She was also the Chief Diversity Officer from 2011 to 2016, where she led the strategy and execution of the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

Courtesy of PepsiCo

Geisha Williams

ON MARCH 1ST, Geisha Williams became the first Latina to lead a Fortune 500 company. She has come a long way from the day she fled Cuba with her parents in 1967 at five years of age. Today she leads a team responsible for providing safe, reliable, and affordable power to 16 million people in northern and central California. During her tenure at PG&E, she oversaw the company’s move to bring nearly 30% of its energy from renewable sources. The power company has also become a leader in renewables integration, grid modernization and smart grid technologies under her stewardship, while also achieving the best electric reliability in company history.

Dixon Gonzalez

L AT INO LE A DE R S

Jim Kara George

Grace Puma SVP, Chief Supply Officer, PepsiCo

PUMA LEADS three areas that support all PepsiCo businesses In the global procurement role, she manages nearly $25 billion of spend across all lines of the business. She also oversees manufacturing operations in 11 countries and across the global supply chain. Finally, Puma establishes the global strategy on next generation capabilities. She is credited for doubling the year-over-year productivity delivery rate post-transformation for five consecutive years, and delivering over $2.8 billion in productivity over five years. Prior to joining PepsiCo, she has held leadership positions at United Airlines, Kraft Foods, Motorola and Gillette, and has served on the boards of Marietta Corporation, Institute for Supply Management and LifeLink Corporation.

ADRIANA CISNEROS de Griffin leads a third-generation family-owned business focused on media, interactive, and real estate. She is also the President of the Fundación Cisneros, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education in the region. Cisneros is also the co-chair of Endeavor Miami, the Director and Executive Committee Member of the Board of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a Trustee of the Paley Center for Media, and a board member of MoMA PS1 and MoMA’s Latin American acquisitions committee. She holds a BA from Columbia University, a Master’s Degree in journalism from New York University, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.

Ofelia Melendrez U.S. VP and General Manager, Southern California Region McDonald´s USA

OFELIA MELENDREZ-KUMPF is accountable for the management of a $2.1 billion business unit, including more than 800 McDonald’s restaurants. Joining McDonald’s more than 20 years ago as a manager trainee, she advanced quickly through all phases of restaurant management and supervision, in both the U.S. and Latin America. In 2010 she was the recipient of the company’s most prestigious award for her inclusive leadership practices, and has been recognized by the Women’s Business Leadership Network and the Hispanic Operators Association, as well as Latina Style Magazine. She holds a Bachelor in Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Courtesy of Sam’s Club

Gisel Ruiz EVP and COO, Sam’s Club

GISEL RUIZ oversees operations for over 650 Sam’s Clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico. She began her career at Walmart 24 years ago, as a management trainee and has climbed to key roles within the company, including EVP for the International People Division at Walmart, and Walmart U.S. COO. Ruiz has been honored by Latina Style as Latina Executive of the Year in 2010, and by Fortune magazine as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2012, 2013, and 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Santa Clara University, where she also completed the Retail Management Institute program.

Paul Sirochman

Courtesy of McDonald’s

Vice Chairman, Latina America Bank of America

Myrna Soto SVP & Global Chief Information Security Officer, Comcast

MYRNA SOTO oversees the security of all information and technology assets for Comcast. She also specializes in technology risk management & strategy, business/technology integration, and vendor management & strategic sourcing. In addition to her role at Comcast, she is also on the board of directors for CMS Energy & Consumers Energy and Spirit Airlines, and the Hispanic IT Executive Council where she is Vice President. She received a Masters Certification in project management from George Washington University, and an MS and MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Courtesy of BP

Courtesy of Bank of America

Sonia Dulá

Aleida Rios VP of Operations, BP Gulf of Mexico

ALEIDA RIOS is responsible for the safe, reliable and compliant operations on BP’s four offshore platforms in the deepwater gulf, which produce 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and began her 25-year career at BP as an intern in the oil fields of West Texas. Rios has held a variety of leadership posts in operations and engineering, including vice president of operations for BP’s North American onshore business. Today, she oversees a team of over 1,000 and manages a $1 billion operating budget. Find our leaders online!

latinoleaders.com

L AT INO LE A DE R S

SONIA DULÁ has run all three divisions of Bank of America’s Latin America business: Corporate, Investment Bank, and Wealth Management. Working with Mexico’s Ministry of Communications, Dula recently closed a multibillion-dollar deal to bring mobile connectivity to more than 90% of Mexico’s population. Prior to joining BofA, Dulá has held senior posts at Pemex, the Mexican national oil company, as well as Goldman Sachs. As CEO of Grupo Latino de Radio she operated over 500 radio stations in Latin America and the U.S. reaching over 75% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Born in Mexico and raised in Brazil, Dulá speaks five languages fluently and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude in Economics from Harvard University, and received her MBA from Stanford University.

Courtesy of J.P. Morgan Chase

Priscilla Almodovar Managing Director and Co-Head of the Real Estate Banking business within the Commercial Bank at JPMorgan Chase

PRISCILLA ALMODOVAR oversees JPMorgan Chase’s investments in community development projects in underserved markets. In 2016, her team financed the construction and rehabilitation of 14,000 affordable housing units for low-income families and seniors in over 90 US cities. She is also invested in various economic development projects that support charter schools, healthcare clinics, and food grocers. Almodovar was also the CEO of New York State’s housing finance agencies and a corporate partner at White & Case LLP. She is a graduate of Columbia Law School.

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Francis Hondal

Jeremy Freeman/CNN

President, Global Customer Success & Latin America, Salesforce

Cynthia Hudson SVP, General Manager of CNN en Español and Hispanic Strategy CNN

CYNTHIA HUDSON leads 200 employees, stringers, and correspondents around the globe, overseeing all original Spanish-language content for CNN worldwide, including television feeds for Latin America, Mexico and US Hispanic markets reaching almost 40 million households. She launched CNNE’s digital business which now has a monthly average of 25 million unique users. Her digital accolades include: #1 Spanish news Twitter account, top 6 Twitter account in the world in any language, the world’s #1 Spanish language Facebook page, and # 1 Google Plus page. Hudson began her career as a news producer and reporter at Univision, and has held numerous creative and executive positions at United International Holdings, SBS, Mega TV and Cosmopolitan TV. She has won eight regional Emmy Awards and was named as one of People en Español’s most powerful women.

14 Courtesy of UnitedHealth

Maria Martinez

WITH MORE THAN 30 years of experience in transforming businesses and customer success, Maria Martinez is the President of Global Customer Success at Salesforce Latin America, and the GM of the company’s Latin and Central America business. Prior to joining Salesforce, she managed Microsoft’s global services business, where she outperformed revenue targets and increased Microsoft’s customer satisfaction rating. She was also the President and CEO of Embrace Networks, and held senior roles at Motorola and AT&T. Martinez holds a Master’s Degree in computer engineering from Ohio State University and a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico.

Courtesy of MasterCard

L AT INO LE A DE R S

Eric Millette

Yasmine Walker Regional CEO, Community and State Central Region, UnitedHealth

AS CEO of Central Region United Healthcare Community & State, Yasmine Winkler serves nearly six million Medicaid members in 24 states. Under her leadership, UnitedHealthcare has launched numerous products including myHealthcare Cost Estimator, myClaims Manager with Bill Pay, and the Health4Me mobile app. Prior to joining United Healthcare, Winkler has held positions with BlueCross/BlueShield of Illinois, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Her B.A. degree is in English and Environmental Studies from Northeastern Illinois University, followed by an M.S. in Health Care Delivery Science from the Tuck School of Business and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.

FRANCIS HONDAL brings 25 years of experience in consumer marketing, finance and management to her role at Mastercard. Prior to joining the company, she launched a business development and marketing service firm after an 18-year career at American Express, where she was Regional VP and General Manager for the International Consumer Card Services Division in Latin America and Canada. Hondal is a first generation Cuban-American with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and International Business and an MBA from Florida International University. She is also a member EVP, Credit and Loyalty of the College of Business’ Dean’s Council and was inducted into the College of Business Solutions Mastercard Administration Hall of Fame in 2015, where she received the Global Leadership Award.

Partner and Regional Business Tax Services Leader, EY

Gina OrozcoMejia VP, Gas Operations SoCalGas

GINA OROZCO-MEJIA oversees all gas distribution operations for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). Since joining SoCalGas as an engineering intern in 1990, Orozco-Mejia has held a variety of increasingly responsible roles in engineering, field services, gas system operations, environmental, international development, and operations staff. She previously served as director of labor relations and was responsible for working with the unions that represent approximately 5,000 SoCalGas employees. Orozco-Mejia has a master’s degree in business administration from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Los Angeles. She is also an alumna of the Southern California Leadership Network and Leadership California.

Courtesy of KPMG

Miriam HernandezKakol Advisory principal and U.S. Service Line Leader of KPMG’s Customer and Operations business, Global Lead Partner, KPMG

MIRIAM HERNANDEZ-KAKOL is the U.S. Service Line Leader for KPMG’s Customer & Operations business, which is focused on delivering industryspecific solutions to address the front-and middle-office challenges of Fortune 500 clients. She oversees a team of more than 1,000 partners and professionals, and leads a critical growth area for KPMG. She is also KPMG’s Global Lead Partner for one of KPMG’s premier global clients. Committed to diversity and the advancement of women and girls, Ms. Hernandez-Kakol is a member of KPMG’s Women’s Advisory Board and has served on the leadership team for KPMG’s Network of Women. She actively serves on the National Academy Foundation’s STEM committee and the New Jersey Junior Achievement Board.

Maria Fernanda Mejia SVP, Kellogg and President, Kellogg Latin America Kellogg

MARIA FERNANDA MEJIA is SVP, Kellogg Company, and President, Kellogg Latin America since November 2011. Prior to joining Kellogg, Mejia previously held a variety of global marketing and management roles at the Colgate-Palmolive Company, including Corporate VP and General Manager, Global Personal Care and Corporate Fragrance Development, Corporate VP of Marketing and Innovation for Europe/South Pacific, and President and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive Spain. Mejia is currently a non-Executive Director on the Board of International Consolidated Airlines Group, and has been a member of the Board of the Council of the Americas since October 2014. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University.

Bernadette Aulestia EVP, Global Distribution, HBO

BERNADETTE AULESTIA oversees $5 billion in annual revenue and distribution of the HBO’s networks and platforms worldwide. Internationally, she is responsible for the operations of HBO branded networks in 67 countries. Domestically, she leads distributions for the premium networks HBO and Cinemax, whether it be through cable, satellite, and telco companies or in the critical lodging business. Aulestia oversees HBO’s Affiliate Marketing group, which is responsible for the acquisition and retention of subscribers across all distributor partners. She also heads digital distribution efforts, including streaming products HBO GO, MAX GO, the newly launched HBO NOW, and HBO Home Entertainment. She holds a BA in Economics from Brown University. Find our leaders online!

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AS A PARTNER and Regional Business Tax Services Leader at EY, Belinda Pestana works with leadership on strategy for tax advisory and planning, and is the Global Tax Account Leader on one of the firm’s largest clients, managing $50 million plus of tax revenue. A daughter to Cuban immigrants, Pestana is involved in various firm initiatives focused on diversity and is currently the Diversity & Inclusion Champion for the NY Banking and Capital Market Group. She is also a founder of Sound of Gol, a nonprofit dedicated to the development of youth through soccer. She attended St. Peters College and Villanova University, and received her BS in Accounting.

Hollis Conway

Courtesy of SoCalGas

Belinda Pestana

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of EY

Courtesy of Signature Flight Support

Maria Sastre President and COO, Signature Flight Support

MARIA SASTRE has been leading successful acquisitions and integrations for Signature Flight Support since joining in 2010. Prior to her role at Signature Flight Support, she served Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises as VP and United Airlines as VP of Worldwide Customer Satisfaction. She is also an experienced public and private corporate board director and has served on the boards of Darden Restaurants, Publix Supermarkets, Laidlaw International and various non-profit organizations in Miami. Born in Havana, Cuba, Sastre holds an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Miami Dade College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from New York Institute of Technology.

18 • May / June 2017

Courtesy of WE family offices

President and CEO, Pinnacle Group

Maria Elena Lagomasino CEO and Managing Partner, WE family offices

A NATIVE OF CUBA, Maria Elena Lagomasino is a founding partner of WE Family offices, a completely independent global advisory firm offering family office solutions to ultra high net worth families. Prior to WE, Lagomasino was the Chairman & CEO private banking at JPMorgan Chase and Vice President, South America Private Banking at Citi Bank. In 2012, she was listed in the Top 25 Women in Finance by American Banker. She received her MBA from Fordham University, an MS from Columbia University, and a BA from Manhattanville College.

FORM & FICTION

Nina Vaca

UNDER NINA VACA’S leadership, Pinnacle Group has been providing innovative IT workforce solutions for nearly 20 years. The company’s revenue has quadrupled since 2010 and exceeded $1 billion dollars in gross revenue in 2015. Through her success with Pinnacle, Vaca has been recognized as an NBC innovator, Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernest & Young, and Most Intriguing Entrepreneur by Goldman Sachs. As a White House appointed PAGE Ambassador, she has traveled to five continents to share her story and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. She is a member of the board of Cinemark USA, Inc., Comerica Bank and Kohl’s Corporation. Vaca has a BA from Texas State University-San Marcos and a Doctorate from Northwood University.

Courtesy of Vanir

L AT INO LE A DE R S

Eric Millette

Kim Rivera Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, HP Inc.

KIM M. RIVERA is the Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel for HP Inc., where she manages the worldwide legal department, overseeing all aspects of legal, government affairs, compliance, and ethics. She has more than 20 years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies on significant corporate transactions, governance matters, securities, compliance, risk management, audit, and litigation matters. Previously, she served as the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for DaVita Healthcare Partners, a Global Fortune 250 healthcare services companies. She was also the Chief Compliance Officer and Head of International Legal Services at The Clorox Company. Rivera has a BA Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies from Duke University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

AS CHAIRMAN AND CEO of Vanir Group of Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, a group that is a nationally recognized leader in program, project and construction management and real estate development, Dorene Dominguez oversees 17 offices throughout the United States and more than 360 executives, architects, engineers, construction managers, developers, and contractors. In addition, Dominguez serves on the board of CIT Bank and is the founder of The Dominquez Dream, which empowers children in underserved communities to achieve in literacy and S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). Chairman, President and CEO, Dominguez is also a minority owner of the NBA Sacramento Kings. She graduated Vanir Group of Companies from the University of Notre Dame with a BS in Finance.

Dorene Dominguez

TOP LATINA

L AT INO LE A DE R S

Belinda Pestana: Fulfilling the Freedom to Dream and Achieve Story by: Kimberly Olguin

Partner and Regional Business Tax Services Leaders EY

he promise of her future was set long before Belinda Pestana knew it. Her parents came to the United States at ages 11 and 12. “My family left everything behind in Cuba to come here and provide us a future with the freedoms that they no longer had,” she explains. As a successful leader at Ernst & Young (EY), a tax preparation corporation, Pestana reveals her motivation to take charge of her freedom and chase dreams. As a first-generation American, she was one of the first in her family to attend college. “I was definitely raised in a family where hard work and resilience was a key message,” she remembers. Immediately after college, she joined the workforce as a public accountant. Pestana quickly moved on with EY, contributing to the management team for over five years. Then, she chose to leave EY and become comptroller of a real estate company, allowing her to learn the other side of the business. Pestana eventually returned to EY with a new outlook, anticipating career advancement and benefiting her new young family. “Careers don’t happen by accident. Having the right relationships and sponsorship is very important,” she says. With the ideal support system, Pestana soon fulfilled her dream and became a partner with EY. As a global tax accountant leader, her responsibilities are both challenging and exciting. Pestana assists in managing some of 20 • May / June 2017

ANA RODRIGUEZ FINANCE EY the largest global financial institutions by handling global relationships, as well as internal relationships with firm leaders, peers and large teams. Throughout her career, she has mentored others to become successful too. “I want to pay it forward,” she says. Pestana wishes to make a positive impact. The mentorships she takes on are part of her vision. Pestana wants to see more females and Latinos as CEOs and in board rooms. She believes women must be more outspoken and find role models. So, she’s taken the challenge upon herself. “I’d like to be recognized as someone who really made a difference with women and Latinos at the firm,” she says.

Just like her mentor, Belinda Pestana, Ana Rodriguez is chasing dreams at Ernst & Young. She too, is a first-generation American, inspired by the hope her parents instilled in her. Rodriguez launched her career 14 years ago as an auditor for the state of New York. For the past 10 years, she has been at EY working in the financial sector on everything from consulting to compliance. She is now part of a client financial service tax practice, focusing on state and local tax groups. “Your mentor is your trusted advisor. Belinda is a great supporter and educator,” she says. Rodriguez appreciates all the help and knowledge she has attained and is passing on the favor by mentoring her fellow colleagues. “The best part of being in senior management is the opportunity to work with diverse people and mentor a team,” she says.

L AT INO LE A DE R S

Priscilla Almodovar:

ttaining career goals is so much more enjoyable for professionals when they can pursue their passion. However, this factor doesn’t always make it easier. Priscilla Almodovar’s career is 30 years in the making and she is still challenging herself to surpass milestones. “Find something you love to do professionally; otherwise it’s just a job,” she says. Almodovar lives true to her word. Now, just seven years after joining JPMorgan Chase, she’s an executive team member at one of the world’s biggest financial companies. “Become an expert in what you do, and never stop learning,” she insists. It took decades of career building and dedication for Almodovar to be promoted to co-head the National Real Estate Banking Business for JPMorgan’s Commercial Banking business. Even the more humble days of Almodovar’s career were a challenge. Several years ago, she was a corporate partner at a global law firm. Later on, she became president and CEO of the New York State Housing Finance Agency. Impressively, Almodovar helped the agency become the largest tax-exempt bond issuer for multi-family housing projects in each of the three years she contributed to the agency. “Make the most out of every opportunity, even when it seems less than optimal,” she says. The results of her hard work truly reflect her effort. The JPMorgan Chase team member joined the company by leading Community Development Banking, as she focused on economic development projects in underserved markets. “Invest time to build and maintain relationships,”

Managing Director and Head of Community Development Banking JP Morgan Chase Bank she says. This key approach helped her succeed at JPMorgan Chase. Almodovar manages a team of real estate professionals tasked with providing services and products to clients. Together, they deliver on debt, treasury and investment banking products for top performing real estate developers, investors, real estate operating companies, investment funds and real estate investment trusts. Her advice is to “Treat everyone of all levels with respect.” Even at the top, Almodovar continues to learn new skills, enhancing her abilities and performance. “At JPMorgan Chase, I’ve learned the importance of putting the client at the center of everything we do, and of always

doing the right thing,” she explains. Her persistence to invest in herself and grow in a variety of ways has benefitted her career as a whole. “Your personal brand is all about your character and reputation,” she says, adding that she wishes others might experience her level of success. Almodovar is ready to see positive changes and is optimistic about the future. “I hope to see more progress around women being assessed for both their past performance and potential,” she says. “In my view, the single biggest factor to propel progress is to have more women in senior P&L roles, not just senior operational roles.” As Almodovar continues to lead her team at JPMorgan Chase, she succeeds by mentoring and doing what she loves. latinoleaders.com

Story by: Kimberly Olgiuin Photo: Courtesy

Chasing Beloved Dreams to Triumph

TOP LATINA

L AT INO LE A DE R S

Maria Castañón Moats: Dreaming Big to Succeed

Story by: Kimberly Olguin

U.S. Assurance Leader PwC

tanding atop a corporation among the frontrunners in her field, Maria Castañón Moats vividly recalls the dreams that led her to her destiny. To this day, her mother’s words of wisdom echo in her mind; “It doesn’t cost us anything to dream, so let’s dream big,” her mother often insisted. These few words of encouragement would go a long way for the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) executive. It has been 27 years since Moats began her career at PwC, in her hometown of El Paso, Texas. She has held a number of positions and worked in offices throughout the country. Along the way, her proficiency grew in several areas, including business strategy, quality and regulatory relations, innovation, risk management, business development and human capital. Moats’ career thrived with the abundance of opportunity. The extent of her occupations reached out beyond various industries, where she continuously challenged herself to explore the unknown. “I’ve served a variety of clients, from those in apparel, grocery and electronics retailers, to global and local manufacturers; and I’ve learned from each one,” she says.

22 • May / June 2017

Direction was essential to guide her desire to succeed through the new endeavors. Mentorship also plays a major role in the triumphs of Moat’s career at PwC. “There’s no shortage of leaders who make it their business to help our people grow and learn,” she says. “I learn something new every day, whether that’s a technical skill, industry trend or in my personal growth.” This influence has permitted Moats to blossom in the company, and she’s a firm believer that others can attain their goals with the same approach. In due time, she was given the opportunity to guide her colleagues as she progressed at PwC. In 1994, Moats returned home to El Paso and joined the auditing team there, being named partner later in 2004. She was the Chief Diversity Officer from 2011-2016. Now, she is the Leader of U.S. and Mexico Assurance and Audit Practice at PwC. Moats’ platforms have grown to encompass more people, as well as her ability to impact them. In an organization consisting of teams comprised by more than 50,000 people, Moats says it’s an honor to inspire those around her. “My favorite days are those when I’m able to meet and spend time with our teams who are making a difference to our clients and within our communities,” Moats says. As the future lies ahead, she also says she would like to see certain changes happen within the industry. Diversity is an asset Moats wants to see more of. “While diverse perspectives and experiences are crucial, so is diversity in gender and ethnicity,” she says. “And the data tells us again and again that companies perform better when leadership is diverse.” Today she is working on turning this concept into reality. “I hope that my legacy will be one of a mentor and friend, someone who invested in her teams, providing them with opportunities to grow, and above all, the courage to dream big,” she says.

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HEALTH FEATURE

Design by: Carlos Cuevas

HEALTH IS ALL WE HAVE.

IF WE LOSE IT, WE’RE DONE!

Often overlooked, the implications of the work of healthcare industry leaders is key to understanding what’s being done in this field. From preventive care to cancer, and hundreds of other health problems in between, there have been many advancements that will help us understand how to prevent and cure many of these ailments. There are real leaders and talented minds working behind the scenes, and many of them are Latinos! This is our second “Latinos in Health” edition, and with great pride we present a fantastic collection of industry leaders and their work. These individuals are not only working on Latino health issues, but most commonly for the concerns of the general population. All of these subjects have acquired an expertise in their own fields and have great stories to tell. We have divided the special section into a few subsections: Who are the most recognized Latino physicians? What are the best hospitals for Latinos, and the worst health issues for the Hispanic community? How can we empower the pipeline of Latino physicians and nurses? Who is doing serious research? This approach will allow us to present a better perspective on each of these important topics. This edition is intended to provide a panoramic view of where the Latino community stands when it comes to healthcare and identify the leaders who are making the difference.

By: Chriss Swaney

FINDING A

SOLUTION

TO MEDICAL COVERAGE

hen it comes to health care, no one can deny that costs are skyrocketing and coverage for many consumers remains out of reach. But Samuel Arce, a New York physician and board chairman of the National Hispanic Medical Association, says the U.S. may want to emulate Cuba’s health system, where all care is government-run. Arce, who has more than 30 years as a physician in family and internal medicine, said the Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for health care of all its citizens. “However, if you do not receive the care or treatment you desire in Cuba, there are no private health facility alternatives like here in the U.S.,” said Arce, a graduate of the Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico and a member of the governing board of the American Medical Society.

Samuel Arce, MD

Board Chairman of the National Hispanic Medical Association 24 • May / June 2017

HEALTH FEATURE

Still, Arce argues that access to quality health care and And some of those most vulnerable consumers come medical insurance, especially for the Hispanic community, from the Hispanic community, where diabetes and obesity is critical. He points out that more than a fourth of all are rampant. Because Hispanics have a propensity for Hispanics have no health care insurance, although they being overweight, that condition also puts them at risk for make up 15 percent of the U.S. population. That number other health issues, according to Arce. is expected to double to 29 percent by 2050. Arce also explains that part of the health care “We are seeing that more and more Hispanics are challenge is tied to the cost of medical education in the not getting the right access to health care and therefore U.S. Newly minted primary care physicians end up with and not getting the proper care for chronic health care more than $300,000 in medical school debt following problems on time,’’ Arce said. “Health care reform is graduation. necessary.” “We need to make medical education more affordable While the health care coverage battle is becoming so we can increase the number of quality physicians,’’ he more and more politicized, Arce believes the U.S. needs a said. A recent medical survey of 1,900 newly graduated system that insures everyone equally. medical doctors revealed that 27 “We need a system that provides the percent of them plan to close their “We are seeing that population with a base plan that they practice within two years due to the more and more can augment through time,’’ he said. high cost of malpractice insurance. Because health care costs Arce points out that tort reform Hispanics are not continue to rise at a rapid pace, and is needed to cap the amount people getting the right many of the deductibles have become can sue for. “The overhead of running access to health care outrageous, Arce says that people a primary physician practice is also with insurance today are frustrated by increasing,’’ he said. and therefore and not the high premiums. They often can’t But Arce is quick to point out getting the proper care afford the deductibles. that the immigration issue is not part for chronic health care “Right now the system only of the medical coverage problem. problems on time,’’ works if young people get involved “Most undocumented immigrants and the young are asking the ultimate Arce said. “Health care do not seek care unless they pay question: ‘Why should we pay into a for it themselves because they fear reform is necessary.” system we do not need?’ Arce said. deportation if they go to a hospital At present, the proposed emergency room,’’ he said. “We will changes to the Affordable Care Act also get better health care if we look (or“Obamacare”) are marginal and include the elimination and sound like the people we see. I really want to encourage of the policy that all Americans must obtain coverage or more young Hispanics to seek careers in the medical health pay a tax penalty. Businesses with 50 or more employees profession. We can then truly make a bigger difference.’’ are required to provide insurance. The American Health Care Act, passed by the House of Representatives in early May, also would replace incomeFind our leaders online! based subsidies with refundable tax credits based on age www.latinoleaders.com and income; charge individuals a 30 percent surcharge if they buy a plan after allowing their coverage to lapse; and phase out the current law’s more generous Medicaid funding over time. But Arce explains that efforts to restructure the Medicaid program by shifting from an entitlementbased program to one based on per-capita allocation will have the effect of making significant reductions in a program that provides care for the most vulnerable in the population.

HEALTH FEATURE

CIGNA’S

MISSION TO HELP SAVE LIVES

t the core of Cigna is healthy, but we know that people in the U.S. only use their mission to help save preventive services at about half the recommended 100,000 lives a year. That’s rate,*** even though most health plans completely cover the number of lives the preventive health services when visiting a doctor in your U.S. Centers for Disease plan’s network”**** Cigna’s Vice President of Global Control and Prevention Branding Stephen Cassell said. “Getting a regular check(CDC) estimates would be up - even when you are in seemingly good health – and saved if everyone in the knowing your four health numbers --- blood pressure, body U.S. received his or her mass index, blood sugar and cholesterol --- are the best recommended preventive care.* prevention against a serious illness and may potentially It’s also important to understand that Hispanics help detect health issues early.” Research shows that represent 17% of the U.S. population and face significant being aware of these four health numbers can help prevent health disparities, or avoidable and unfair differences chronic disease and help control health care costs.***** in health status between segments of the population, To that end, Cassell added that, “it is important for and are less likely to get their preventive care than the Cigna to continue building awareness within the Hispanic general population.** There is also community, to motivate individuals to take By: a cultural tendency to only see the action to better understand and control doctor when you are ill, so it is very their health, by focusing on preventive Stephen Cassell. important to reinforce in the Hispanic care and developing a relationship with Vice President of Global community that preventive care is their physician. For Cigna, delivering the Branding Cigna better than reactive care. campaign message in a culturally-relevant And that’s why the way that resonates with the Hispanic Multicultural brand marketing community is crucial in driving team at Cigna has been action and encouraging positive focusing on promoting the behavior for better health.” importance of check-ups within the Hispanic community “Preventive care is an to encourage wellness over important part of staying only treating sickness. More specifically, through a multihealthy, but we know media campaign approach that people in the U.S. that includes television, public only use preventive relations, radio, celebrity influencer, digital, social services at about half the and grassroots events in key recommended rate” Hispanic markets, Cigna’s made it their goal to encourage Hispanics to get their checkSOURCES ups, know their four health * www.cdc.gov/prevention/ numbers (blood pressure, ** www.cigna.com/assets/docs/health-care-professionals/ body mass index, blood sugar hispanic-health-disparities.pdf *** www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/toolstemplates/ and cholesterol) and take entertainmented/tips/preventivehealth.html control of their health. **** www.healthcare.gov/coverage/preventive-care-benefits/ “Preventive care is an ***** www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/ important part of staying

26 • May / June 2017

Kristian Jaime

TOP HOSPITALS FOR LATINOS The implications of evolving demographics in the nation affect the economy, national security, politics and even the healthcare industry. For the country’s leading hospitals, that means augmenting their care with stronger elements of cultural competency and outreach strategies to attract minority patients. That even means changing the face of the boardroom to include more Latinos in management positions. In the past five years, an estimated 59 million immigrants have come to the United States from across the world. That means placing a premium on diversity in ways not anticipated by industry analysts. Metrics such as the percentage of Hispanic patients, minority outreach efforts, programs to hire minorities and even bilingual or multilingual programs all went into selecting the top 25 hospitals for Latinos. Latino Leaders Magazine comprised the list from across the country with general care and varying specialties all taken into account. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

www.mdanderson.org Aside from serving one of the most diverse populations in the country’s fourth largest city, MD Anderson currently boasts a 654-bed cancer facility with over 27,700 admissions and has performed 8,656 annual inpatient and 10,281 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 22,423 visits; a staggering number considering it is also a teaching hospital. Diversity is at the core of the mission as they serve a city with an estimated 90 languages spoken in Texas’ largest city. With pertinent information

available in Spanish as well as four other languages, it has already acclimated to the changing face of the Houston. Its Diversity Council is an institutional committee, which develops strategies that attract and retain superior talent and assist MD Anderson in enhancing its workforce that is in balance with the community it serve. The hospital employee networks serve as a vehicle to voice ideas, foster support systems and promote the professional development of diversity. That includes six organizations that are open to all employees.

Mayo Clinic

www.mayoclinic.org Among the most notable on the list, the Mayo Clinic has locations across the country and sees more than 1 million patients a year including 8,000 international patients from 150 countries. The renowned hospital network has developed websites that provide comprehensive information for patients whose first language is Spanish and established an International Patients Office to help ensure that distance and language are not obstacles to receiving world-class care. Experienced medical interpreters are available at no cost to assist patients as they attend appointments, translate patient education materials, and assist with completing patient registration and finance information. It also offers minority health and wellness programs on: cancer prevention, healthy brain aging, community outreach, community-engaged research and others. Its One World Advisory Council, a patient and family organization, provides culturally competent care. It strengthens the voices of diverse patients and families at its facilities in order to enhance patient safety, satisfaction and quality of care.

Henry Ford Hospital

www.henryford.com The Henry Ford health System is regularly awarded as one of the most diverse health networks in the country. Henry Ford supports employee involvement in its diversity and inclusion efforts through participation in Employee Resource

Groups (ERGs). They promote and encourage a culture of professional growth, build positive direct relationships with staff and maximize each employee’s contribution to the health system mission. Of the seven ERGs, Hispanic employees can join “Amigos de Henry Ford Health System.” The hospital is staffed by the Henry Ford Medical Group, one of the nation’s largest group practices with 1,200 physicians and researchers in more than 40 specialties. It serves patients from across the world at its 53-acre 877-bed hospital, and specialists train the next generation of health care professionals at its education and research center. Locally, the Michigan Minority Business Development Council has twice recognized Henry Ford as the Health Care Sector Corporation of the Year, and five times awarded Henry Ford with the Corporate ONE Award.

Massachusetts General Hospital

www.massgeneral.org Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the 999-bed medical center admits approximately 48,000 inpatients, handles nearly 1.5 million outpatient visits, records more than 100,000 emergency room visits and performs more than 42,000 operations. The Nursing & Patient Care Services (N & PCS) Diversity Program is dedicated to developing short and long-range strategies to support workforce diversification within those departments as a means to best serve the hospital’s diverse patient population. Other components of Mass General’s diversity education includes a culturally competent care curriculum, an eight-hour, interactive educational program currently also accessed by those at the hospital’s satellite locations. Efforts to diversity the workforce have paid off with approximately 85 percent of N & PCS clinicians being nurses. Between 1996 and 2006, while the nursing staff grew by 81 percent, the minority nursing staff increased by 207 percent. Members of the N & PCS executive team influenced the hiring of minority leadership including nurse managers, clinical educators, and directors of clinical and administrative programs.

HEALTH FEATURE

By:

HEALTH FEATURE

The Mount Sinai Hospital

www.mountsinai.org The Mount Sinai Health System spans locations across the state. It is among one of the most extensive networks on this list boasting over 7,000 physicians, seven hospitals and 300 locations including all their affiliate partners and clinics. It is also an academic institution with a medical school and graduate program included. The Mount Sinai Hospital is a 1,171-bed, tertiary-care teaching facility known for clinical care. The institution also received a Health Care Innovation Award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to open the first geriatric emergency department in New York City. The Faculty Diversity Council promotes diversity in faculty recruitment, retention, development, and inclusion. We focus on increasing the representation and advancement of groups underrepresented in medicine and research at all levels, from medical and graduate students and trainees through faculty in all departments, institutes, and administration. Site Diversity Councils present recommendations to leadership to address site-specific, diversity-related challenges while supporting the strategic goals of the organization.

Advocate Health Care

www.advocatehealth.com Advocate Health Care is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. Advocate operates more than 450 sites of care and 12 hospitals, including two of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, and the state’s largest integrated children’s network. With Chicago being the home to the fifth largest Hispanic population in the country, Advocate represents the region’s largest medical group with locations across metropolitan Chicago and Central Illinois. Like many of the hospitals on the list, they strive for diversity with outreach. Among them are efforts by their nursing program with parish nurses working in 39 diverse congregations throughout Chicagoland. Along with providing financial assistance for those struggling with medical costs, Advocate has donated more than $686 million in charitable care and services to benefit communities..

Good Samaritan Hospital

www.trihealth.com Cincinnati, Ohio is home to one of the most diverse hospitals in the country that is the fourth largest employer in the city of Cincinnati, with approximately 11,500 employees. It totals 650 beds and encompasses more than a city block. To further meet the needs of the growing community, it recently completed an extensive modernization and expansion project that added a new 10-story patient care tower and renovated numerous existing hospital spaces. Diversity Advisory Councils are the

28 • May / June 2017

groups of people within the TriHealth organization who lead, advocate for, coordinate, inform, and support the Diversity & Inclusion Strategy. Good Samaritan also has Employees Resource Groups (ERGs). They are also known as affinity groups or business-resource groups, are team member-led and may be formed based on common culture, characteristics. The council will also serve to suggest actions pertaining to diversity success, gain insights from the members of the organization on their perceptions of the diversity effort, and monitor progress of the diversity initiative.

Cleveland Clinic

My.Clevelandclinic.org Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit, multi-specialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Today, it includes 1,400 beds on the Cleveland Clinic main campus and 4,450 beds system-wide. With 164,704 acute visits, 58,066 outpatient visits, 208,807 surgical cases and 74 accredited training program, it is one of the largest healthcare providers in the region. The Cultural Competence Programs are designed to foster cultural competency across the full range of Cleveland Clinic departments. Diversity Councils sustain a high-performing, inclusive work environment by integrating diversity goals with the cornerstone values of quality, teamwork, service and innovation for the successful delivery of medical treatment. Diversity Coordinators provide ongoing feedback to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and in turn, to the Diversity Executive Council. Along with many hospitals on the list, they also employ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) The purpose of these organizations are to help drive fundamental values, practices and global diversity objectives

Lenox Hill Hospital

www.northwell.edu As part of the Northwell Health Network, Lenox Hill is a 652-bed, acute care hospital located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. A staple in the community for more than 150 years, the hospital has earned a national reputation for outstanding patient care and innovative medical and surgical treatments. As the second hospital to make the list from “The Empire State,” it shares a number of similarities in its outreach to minority patients and potential Hispanic employees. The Executive Diversity and Inclusion Council provide executive oversight to diversity, inclusion and health literacy programs and initiatives. The Executive Council is chaired by Michael Dowling, the president & chief executive officer of the health network, and is comprised of other members of senior leadership including the chief diversity and inclusion officer. The Inclusion Academy leadership development

program is designed to provide coordinators, front-line managers and directors with the tools necessary to implement and manage diversity and inclusion strategies at their local sites and facilities.

Moffitt Cancer Center

www.moffitt.org As one of the leading cancer research and treatment facilities in the nation, the Tampa, Florida-based hospital is also serving one of the most diverse populations. Moffitt treats more than 300,000 patients with cancer from common to complex. Moffitt also belongs to a group of elite cancer centers. It is one of only 47 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country and the only one based in Florida. Patients and families separated from their caregiving team by a difference in language rely on Moffitt’s professional translators, medical interpreters, and its over-the-phone and video remote interpretation services every day of the year. The results are rewarding — to patients, the caregiving team, and the interpreters themselves. Among the tools used to invest in diversity includes enhancing Moffitt’s image among underserved communities as an organization delivering cultural and linguistically competent care through prevention education and mutually beneficial partnerships and serving as a resource, as well as, to identify opportunities to increase Moffitt’s preparedness when serving diverse communities.

UT Health San Antonio Cancer Center

www.uthscsa.edu While MD Anderson may cast a large shadow, the San Antonio Cancer Center is also a leading institution in research and treatment of various types of the illness. Serving a city with a population that is 63 percent Hispanic demands a comprehensive diversity plan for patient care and aspiring medical student and employees alike. The UT Health San Antonio System established The Office for Student Diversity and Professional Development and was created with a new assistant dean to further support and sustain student diversity and inclusion efforts. The graduates from the medical school from 2006 through 2012 ranked above the ninetieth percentile for Hispanics. The creation of a diversity committee ensured the recruitment of more minority and women candidates in positions as well as bolstering the number of minority students in its medical school and graduate programs. Patient outreach efforts include a bilingual approach in a largely bilingual city. As an option closer to home for cancer treatment, the investment in cultural competency has made it not only diverse, but also dynamic in its approach to care.

HEALTH FEATURE

Baylor University Medical Center

www.baylorhealth.com As the flagship hospital of Baylor Scott & White Health in North Texas, it cares for more than 300,000 people each year and has 894 licensed beds. Its 1,376 physicians attend to 36,007 admissions, 146,077 outpatient visits and 106,979 emergency room visits. As a teaching hospital, it also includes 220 medical residents and fellows. The Diversity Management Council (DMC) is active in both recruiting a diverse workforce and in promoting diversity throughout the workforce. Other efforts by the DMC include: participating in diversity “Train-the-Trainer” Management programs at the facility level, representing the health system and the council in recruitment or community events and developing recommendations and implementing plans to integrate diversity into new employee orientation. As part of preparing for a diverse patient population, the council Assess each facility’s delivery of culturally appropriate care and present recommendations for meeting needs and Study the demographics of each facility’s community and create a plan to address diversity issues.

UCLA Medical Center

www.uclahealth.org With California being home a number of top ranked hospitals, the need to reach the increasingly Hispanic population is more pressing than ever. It totals 530 beds, 25 operating rooms and averages 44,466 emergency room patients annually. It is even nationally ranked in 15 adult specialties and 10 children’s specialties. The Pediatric Faculty Diversity Committee promotes a culture of inclusion and appreciation for diversity across multiple areas, including race/ethnicity and aims to enhance patient care, teaching, and research within the Division of Pediatrics. Among institution-wide goals of the UCLA Heath System is promote recruitment, retention, professional excellence, and overall well-being among underrepresented residents, fellows, and faculty and enhance departmental cultural awareness and sensitivity to enrich the services we provide to the diverse communities represented by patients. BUilding Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) is a set of experimental training awards designed to learn how to attract students from diverse backgrounds into the biomedical research workforce and encourage them to become future contributors to the NIH-funded research enterprise.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

www.cedars-sinai.edu As the second hospital on the list from Los Angeles is also highly decorated with 11 specialties nationally ranked. Cedars-Sinai is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the U.S. with 886

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licensed beds, 2,100 physicians, 2,800 nurses and thousands of other healthcare professionals and staff. Clinical programs range from primary care for preventing, diagnosing and treating common conditions to specialized treatments for rare, complex and advanced illnesses. The Office of Faculty Development partnered with Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science to pilot the Cedars-Sinai Summer Scholars Program, a research internship program designed to increase underrepresented minority students’ exposure to and interest in pursuing a career in healthcare research. The Faculty Diversity Ambassadors endeavor to enhance diversity within the health system and engage in community benefit activities to increase awareness and opportunity. Additionally, experts on diversity and related topics have been invited to engage faculty in conversations about diversity and its vital role in academic medicine.

UCSF Medical Center

www.ucsfhealth.org University of California- San Francisco is home to one of the state’s most decorated medical facilities with national ranking in 15 adult specialties and 10 pediatric specialties. It includes more than a million patient visits to its clinics and about 43,000 hospital admissions a year. About 2,400 babies are born at UCSF Medical. Annually, these services generate about $1.6 billion in revenue. The Department of Medicine’s Residency Diversity Committee (RDC) was created in 1993 to promote and advance diversity among faculty, fellows, staff and trainees in the Department of Medicine and the UCSF campus. Among the numerous duties that fall to the RDC include: increase the diversity of our residency and fellowship training programs, provide mentorship and support for trainees from diverse backgrounds and those interested in working with diverse populations and Provide opportunities to work with diverse patient populations which compliment existing training opportunities. CIENCIA aims to provide an opportunity for the UCSF community to hear specialized, technical talks in Spanish, foster the development of Spanish speaking skills.

UC San Diego Medical Center

https://health.ucsd.edu UC San Diego Health is one of five academic medical centers within the 10-campus University of California system. Collectively known as UC Health, these medical centers comprise the fourth largest health care delivery system in California and train nearly 50 percent of the state’s medical students and medical residents. With a total of 808 beds, UC Health provided $486 million in charity care, while also generating $16.7 billion in economic activity throughout California. The Diversity Staff Association promotes knowledge about different communities within our employee base while also

hosting panel discussions with representatives from various community groups to foster understanding. UC San Diego School of Medicine’s chapter of the Latino Medical Student Association draws its membership from a dedicated group of medical students who are focused on increasing the number of underrepresented minorities at our school of medicine. The hospital offers interpreter services, which include five on-site Spanish language interpreters, a 24-hour Language Line, an interpretation phone service with more than 200 languages offered, and a newly launched My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter (MARTTI) program.

UC Davis Medical Center

www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu Situated in Sacramento, California, Davis Medical is nationally ranked in 10 adult and 5 pediatric specialties. It serves 33 counties and 6 million residents across Northern and Central California and admits more than 40,000 patients per year and handles nearly 1 million visits. The medical center’s emergency room sees more than 210 patients per day on average. Latinos make up 39 percent of California’s population, but only 4.7 percent of its physicians. To help close the gap, UC Davis and The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) are launching a new initiative to produce more doctors who are well prepared to advance health for the state’s largest ethnic group. The overall goal of the Prep Médico program – short for “Preparando Estudiantes Para Ser Médicos,” or “Preparing Students to Be Physicians,” is to enhance the diversity in the physician workforce and in Northern California that will provide cultural and linguistically sensitive health care. Transforming Education and Community Health (TEACH) Program, is a nationally recognized primary care training track for resident interested in caring for the medically underserved.

University of Washington Medical Center

www.uwmedicine.org Set in Seattle, Washington, the decorated hospital is nationally ranked in 11 specialties. As part of the medical student curriculum, there are optional educational pathways concerned with underserved communities, including Hispanic, Indian, Global, and LGBTQ health. The medical students also engage in numerous service learning opportunities and student-run clinics as well as working with many of the undergraduate diversity programs on the UW campus. Organizations include the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), a medical school student group devoted to Latino students and serving the Latino population to name just one. Other measures designed to ensure the success of minority students include: utilizing departmental diversity metrics to make the School more inclusive, awarding UW School of Medicine Diversity Scholarships, supporting

Oregon Health and Science University Hospital

www.ohsu.edu As the premier hospital in Portland, Oregon, it has seven specialties and 7 pediatric specialties that are nationally ranked. In total, they see over 1 million patients a year and have over 1,000 licensed and staffed beds. Aside from general care, it also houses a dental clinic. OHSU Healthcare provides equal access to and equal participation in health care activities for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, and for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP) free of charge. Diversity is also fundamental to OHSU’s ability to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market and maximize the return on the investment in people. The Healthcare Diversity Action plan outlines specific strategies, tactics and desired outcomes for each goal. It offers detailed metrics and identifies who is responsible for each tactic. OHSU recruiters are proactively working with departments to develop a diversity recruitment plan for those positions that are currently underrepresented by minorities, women, people with disabilities and protected veterans. In addition, OHSU actively recruits within community and seeks bilingual talent.

University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics

healthcare.utah.edu As a nationally ranked hospital, the University of Utah health system is already making strong headway to include minorities in the medical field. The College of Nursing’s efforts to help diversify the nursing workforce got a boost for its Diversity Recruitment, Retention, and Leadership Development program. Recipients must pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing, which typically takes four years to complete. The program will provide opportunities for mentoring with nurses and upperclassmen nursing students, offer supplemental instructional courses, and the chance to network and hone leadership skills through involvement in committees within the University or outside. From 1990 to 2000, Utah’s immigrant population grew 171 percent. To help employers manage issues of cultural diversity in the workplace attendant to this rapid increase, the University of Utah’s Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health offered a seminar rooted in cultural competency.

Integris Baptist Medical Center www.integrisok.com Rated as the best hospital in the state, Baptist Medical is located in Oklahoma City and is a 511-bed hospital offering a full range of surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services. It is a member of VHA, and can have access to the expertise of more than 852 member hospitals and affiliates. Cultural Competence ensures that Integris employees have the awareness and capacity to address cultural issues that may occur. It provides care that is more tailored to meet the patient’s social, cultural, physical, mental, and linguistic needs. One of the main goals of the Diversity Council is to act as catalysts for identifying and implementing new diversity initiatives to continue the process of creating an improved culture of diversity reflective of the communities it serves. Qualified medical interpreters are accessible to patients and families during appointments, procedures and hospital stays. Our over-the-phone interpreting partner, Cyracom International, provides telephonic access to trained medical interpreters in more than 150 different spoken languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

www.pennmedicine.org The Philadelphia-based hospital boasts 11 nationally ranked specialties. With over 5,000 physicians, it has over 118,000 adult admissions and over 4 million outpatient visits. Adding to its 300,000 emergency room visits and 16,287 births, it is perhaps one of the busiest hospitals in the nation. From its inception, endowments known as the “Fontaine Fellowship” has been used to advance the University’s goals related to diversity specifically with U.S. African American, Native American, and Hispanic students. The Amos Medical Faculty Development Program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, formerly known as the Minority Medical Faculty Development Program supports four-year postdoctoral research candidates as well as provide mentorship. The efforts of Perelman School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion are aimed at supporting the many innovative programs underway, as well as exploring new opportunities to embrace diversity and broaden access to people of all ethnicities.

Yale-New Haven Hospital

www.ynhh.org As one of the most honored hospitals in the state of Connecticut, it had 11 nationally ranked specialties. Among its workload in the region are over 1 million outpatient visitors and over 78,000 inpatient cases. The hospital’s Diversity and Inclusion Team promotes and supports diversity in: recruiting a diverse workforce that is sensitive to and inclusive

of people’s differences, educating staff on working with diverse team members and caring for diverse patient populations, providing an excellent patient experience by understanding patient diversity and meeting the needs of the many different people the hospital serves and Working with a wide variety of groups and individuals in the community to improve people’s health and access to care. The hospital also provides a diversity and inclusion component in new employee orientation, diversity and inclusion training for all staff and other resources. The hospital’s diversity and inclusion resources also include an Office of Workforce Diversity.

Johns Hopkins University

www.hopkinsmedicine.org Arguably the most famous hospital in the nation, it has been the seminal example of medical achievement. It totals 1,194 licensed beds and 2,000 full-time physicians and has been ranked the best hospital in the country for 22 years. The Diversity Postdoctoral Alliance Committee (DPAC) was launched in February 2015 to create a clear, consistent voice for and to support the development of postdoctoral fellows and trainees who are African-American, Latino, Native American and Pacific Islanders. In patient care, many Latinos are beginning to tap the hospital’s health seminars and social services—three Spanish-speaking therapists are available at Johns Hopkins Bayview’s pediatric clinics. Lastly, in the effort to get more minority students into the sciences, the Diversity and Academic Advancement Summer Institute enrolls Thread high school students and recent graduates in five-week paid summer internships in laboratories, clinics and offices at the school of medicine and Baltimore businesses for realworld experience.

City of Hope

www.cityofhope.org/homepage Founded in 1913, City of Hope is one of only 48 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute. Its role as a leader in patient care, basic and clinical research, and the translation of science into tangible benefit is widely acknowledged. City of Hope is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with community clinics throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. The center is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and diabetes, and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs are based on technology developed at the institution. City of Hope is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with cancer, diabetes and other serious illnesses. Its mission is to transform the future of health care by turning science into practical benefit and hope into reality. The center accomplishes this by providing outstanding care, conducting innovative research and offering vital education programs focused on eliminating these diseases.

HEALTH FEATURE

affinity-based community groups that provide resources and mentoring and providing ways for the entire community to engage in diversity efforts that improve health outcomes for all patients. The Center for Health Equity Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) has created new faculty communities through the Committee on Minority Faculty Affairs as well as a network of underrepresented residents and fellows.

HEALTH FEATURE

FOR THE

PEOPLE By: Joe Dyton

Jose Sanchez and Regina Montoya discuss how their respective hospitals are serving their communities and finding solutions to place more Latinos in hospital leadership positions.

hen the Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago reached out to CEO Jose Sanchez to help turn the place around in 2010, he gladly accepted the challenge. The hospital was facing bankruptcy and was under surveillance due to safety issues for seven years. Sanchez was in the middle of a successful run in leadership positions at a number of New York-based hospitals, but when Norwegian American Hospital asked for his help, he answered the call. After several interviews, the hospital’s board of directors told him that he’d been selected as their next CEO. After Sanchez accepted the position, he came in with a vision of how to reverse the hospital’s fortunes. That vision began with ensuring the hospital could support itself with the income it was bringing in. It also put a greater focus on improving the hospital’s quality, as well as its recruiting and retention efforts of the medical staff. He also wanted the hospital to participate in the community and act as a true community organization, using technology not only to manage the organization, but as a tool to increase and improve the hospital’s overall quality. Seven years later, it appears Sanchez’s vision was just what the doctor ordered. The organization has escaped the clutches of bankruptcy;

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it offers dental screenings for children in the community; and has its own recommended training program to teach the next generation of physicians who want to serve communities like the one Norwegian American does. The hospital also improved its quality indicators so much that the Chicago Tribune featured the Norwegian American Hospital as having the lowest infection rate in Illinois. “That brings us a lot of pride because we are competing with institutions that are powerful, influential and have a lot of financial resources that we do not,” Sanchez said. Norwegian American puts a big focus on the community through education, invention and an overall expansion of health services. It also has a care plan focused on immunizations for children. The hospital’s immunization efforts received an award from the American Hospital Association. “In terms of financial stability, quality, our prices and our presence in the community, this hospital is among the best,” Sanchez said. “That distinguishes us from the other organizations or the safety net they have around the inner city of Chicago.” Sanchez is not out to merely improve hospitals, however. He also has noticed the lack of Latino professionals in the health industry. As the only Latino hospital CEO in Illinois, he wants to do something about it. According to Sanchez, the issue stems from a shortage of exposure to the health care administration industry as a career path for young Latino students. He believes students should have the options presented to them much earlier in their academic career — even as early as high school. Sanchez also feels there could be more mentors and role models who are visible in the industry to promote the interests of Latinos in health care — himself included.

Jose Sanchez

CEO of Norwegian American Hospital

Regina Montoya

Member of the Board of Directors of Texas Health Resources Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas

feels and does that. I think that’s one of the things that drew me to serving on this board; because of the work it does.” Montoya’s outreach efforts extend beyond her board seat at the hospital. She also chairs Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings’ task force on poverty. The organization’s first meeting was held at the hospital, where community members were welcome to attend and discuss the poverty issue. “I think that’s part of what is so impressive about this kind of work, because the work with a number of different organizations provides some of that outreach,” Montoya said. “(The hospital) will do it through the mayor’s task force on poverty; specific programs that are working to provide accessible quality care to people as well.” The hospital’s understanding of its role in the community is a big reason why Montoya is proud to serve on its board. With so many people living in poverty, it’s crucial that the hospital provide them with necessary medical care, including an education. Many people in the community the hospital serves live in what Montoya describes as “food deserts.” These are areas where there aren’t many grocery stores, forcing people to turn to unhealthy fast food restaurants for food. A steady diet of unhealthy food can lead to diseases like diabetes. “You see that in our community, with people overindexing on diabetes, that you might be able to prevent it if you had access to healthcare,” she said, “... to be able to learn and be educated about the importance of a good diet and exercise.” One solution to this issue would be to increase the Latino presence on the hospital’s board. Montoya says taking steps like these would help the organization ensure it could provide culturally relevant types of healthcare to people. “I think it’s important that we do that because in addition to providing mentorship to those that follow, I think we should draw on the diverse experiences of our entire community for something as important as healthcare delivery,” she said.

HEALTH FEATURE

“Individuals like myself and others who are in leadership positions have to take responsibility to promote and also create access to Latinos to enter into the field,” he said. “It’s our role to mentor and be supportive. We also need to influence our boards to ensure that there are Latinos on the board of directors (who can) reflect the patient population we’re treating today.” Sanchez and Norwegian American are doing their part. The hospital has a relationship with a few neighboring high schools where they are developing a science curriculum. The hospital also has created field opportunities where students can spend time there; they can get jobs during the summer and are paired with professionals working in the specialty they have expressed an interest in. Between pulling a hospital from the brink of bankruptcy and helping get more Latino students involved in the health care industry is a strong legacy for Sanchez, but he does not want to stop there. He is determined to make sure Norwegian American Hospital continues to be the top safety-net hospital in Illinois. He also wants to remain a positive example for Latino professionals in the industry. “I have taken this role as a Latino CEO seriously because I don’t want to leave room for anyone to worry about a Latino being CEO of a hospital,” Sanchez said. “I want to celebrate who we are, what we do and that Latinos are successful.” The Texas Health Resources Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas is another organization making positive strides toward bringing more Latinos into the health care industry. The hospital, currently celebrating 50 years of service, provides numerous services to the underserved parts of the community. It’s located near the Vickery Meadow community, which houses a large immigrant population with a significant uninsured rate. The hospital has made an effort to take its services out to the communities like Vickery Meadow and support nonprofit organizations that are involved with the health care system. “I think the hospital in north Texas deals with an even bigger responsibility to be part of the community and give back,” said Regina Montoya, a member of the hospital board of directors. “THR Presbyterian Dallas

HEALTH FEATURE

DOCTORS

IN THE HOUSE By: Joe Dyton

HEALTH CARE EXPERTS EXPLORE WHY THERE AREN’T MORE LATINOS WORKING IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY.

he Latino community continues to make strides in increasing its influence across numerous industries and fields of study, but there’s one industry where it’s still lagging behind: the medical field. According to a 2015 study from UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, the number of Latino physicians per 100,000 Latinos has dropped by 22%. In 1980, there were 135 Latino physicians per every 100,000 Latinos; by 2010 that figure fell to 105 per 100,000. David Hayes-Bautista, a UCLA professor of medicine and director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the Geffen School of Medicine, wrote a paper in 2000 projecting the number of Latino physicians in California would drop 6 percent by 2020. There are a number of reasons for the decline of the Latino physician numbers, according to Elena Rios, president of the National Hispanic Medical Association. One is generational. Prior to 1960, few Latino students were attending college, let alone medical school, Rios said. The Latino population in the West was high at the time and Latinos had fewer options for higher education institutions. Rios herself attended UCLA medical school, which didn’t open until 1960. “The majority lived in their community, where they followed the footsteps of their parents,” Rios said. “My grandparents were undocumented immigrants from Mexico who came to this country for jobs. The third generation in my family was born in the 1950s; all of my cousins started going to college, but it was because of financial aid.” In the 1960s, the National Health Service Corps made a push to recruit more Latino medical students, introducing programs to give money to

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schools to help with their recruiting efforts. Conferences and offices were set up in locations like El Paso and Houston, Texas, as well as Los Angeles — places with big Latino families. Despite these efforts to improve recruiting, the number of Latinos in the medical field has not increased. Rios says the plateau wasn’t due to lack of effort, but instead because the recruiting net cast was not wide enough. To expand its search, the National Hispanic Medical Association advocated in Washington, D.C., for years to develop a more regional approach to recruiting. “There should be programs that are regional and reach more students,” Rios said. “Not just two schools that are feeder schools for that one medical school. That regional approach should include high schools and community colleges. We need to broaden where to go after where the Hispanic students are in the higher education pipeline, right? Not just go to the cream of the crop colleges and universities, which is always what’s been happening.” The advocacy worked, thanks to some help from congressmen like Drs. Joe Heck (Nevada) and Paul Ruiz (California) and Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (Texas), who received funding for a new medical school in his district for the first time. Hispanic-Serving Institutes were now able to receive grants designed to improve the schools — whether it be their capacity, resources or faculty — to better serve more Latino students. “They all agreed that it was important to change the focus of recruitment, to go where there’s more Hispanic students,” Rios said. “You have to develop legislation in Congress, and there’s money put into the program once it’s passed into law. The money went to the HispanicServing Institutions every year to develop them; whatever they need to be better.”

Elena Rios

President of the National Hispanic Medical Association

These grants have greatly improved schools’ efforts to recruit more Latino students into the medical fields, but being able to afford medical school is another story. Rios believes major universities need to do something to help students form middle class families so they can afford higher education. These students often can’t afford to go to school without getting a loan that often carries 20% to 30% interest. After undergrad and medical school, graduates could be looking at $300,000 in student debt. That price tag, along with how long it can take to finish college and medical school, also plays a part into why more Latino students don’t pursue the career path. Many of them don’t realize that a job as a physician could pay them close to three times the average salary in the United States. Meanwhile, their families want them to start working at age 18 so they can help support the family. There is no one to tell them that with a little patience, they could wind up with a higher income that could provide for the family more than a standard job would. “The student starts feeling guilty; that’s the other reason they drop out,” Rios said. “It is not an academic problem; it’s a personal problem. That is why we need the doctors that are Latino that have gone through the same issue to help the younger students cope with it. There’s nobody else who truly understands what they’re going through.” The sense of responsibility Latino students feel toward their family when deciding to go to medical school often turns into a sense of responsibility toward their community when they become a doctor. That feeling also plays a part in why there aren’t as many Latino physicians. A majority of Latino med school graduates just want to help their community, so they start their own family practices. While this path is noble, it can be a financial burden for new doctors. According to Rios, many Latino private doctors treat Latino patients who don’t have insurance and prefer to pay cash. The doctors want to treat these patients because they came to them, but a cash business is hard to sustain because so much more money is needed for reimbursement for the technology and machinery needed to run a practice. “I think the reason why corporate America has Hispanics that are lawyers and business people is because they can jump ship and move to one job to

Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Director for Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program at State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University another faster,” Rios said. “They are not taking care of these other people. They are more on their own. That’s the reason we don’t have talent at the highest level in medicine.” Lack of academic access, the expense, family obligations are a handful of reasons why there aren’t more Latinos in the medical industry, but Lamees Galal believes those reasons all stem from the larger issue of systemic racism. Galal is the Syracuse University Upstate Medical University coordinator for multicultural affairs and the assistant director for Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), which supports students who are underrepresented and socially or economically disadvantaged. She’s also a part-time student at Syracuse University, in the Cultural Foundations of Education Ph.D. program, with a focus on inequality and racism in higher education. “It sort of trickles down into our institutions of higher education,” Galal said. “It’s our responsibility to recognize systemic racism and be intentional about making sure we have a diverse student population that become doctors and health care professionals to truly reflect our community and give good care.” CSTEP has several programs to help make sure the Latino community is well represented in medicine in the future. The Try On a White Coat program is a weeklong experience for college freshman and sophomores to check out the Syracuse campus and get exposure to different healthcare careers. “We need to expose students to these health care careers,” Galal said. “We need support, attention and mentorship. Mentorship is so key. We need to see people that look like us are doing this and are successful in this.” The school also has a Medical Education for Diverse Students (MEDS) program, where Syracuse medical students work with the local high school students to get them interested in health care prior to college. “The younger the students are that are exposed to science, the more successful they tend to be,” Galal said. “It’s important to have pipeline programs be intentional about bringing Latino students in. It’s not just about getting students into medical school, but also creating an environment that’s supportive, that’s setting students up for success. I’m proud to be part of an organization like that.” Find our leaders online! www.latinoleaders.com

HEALTH FEATURE

Lamees Galal

HEALTH FEATURE

LUIS FLORES:

DOING THE RIGHT THING

sk most college students today what their favorite movie was when they were 8, and they’ll likely to name “Finding Nemo” or some other Disney classic. For Luis Flores of Oswego, Illinois, that movie was Spike Lee’s “Do

the Right Thing.” Even at that young age, he was struck by the main character’s desire to always do what was right, even when doing so was difficult. For Flores, a senior nursing student at Northern Illinois University, that has translated into a busy schedule since he arrived on campus. He balances the intense demands of majoring in nursing with what he believes is an obligation to serve his fellow NIU Huskies, especially the Latino community. He does much of that work through the Latino Resource Center, which he discovered as a first-year. There he received mentoring from older students and took advantage of programs that taught him study skills. Today, he serves as a mentor himself to nursing students of various backgrounds. “I encourage them they can do it. It can be hard at times, but it will be worth it in the end,” Flores said. Latinos do face other challenges when it comes to college, he said. “Getting out of your comfort zone and going to college is hard. Leaving from where you grew up to pursue a degree – it’s intimidating. The transition can be difficult,” he said.

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Flores believes it’s up to people like him to change that perception. “It’s our responsibility to set the example and encourage the next generation to go to college. We have the knowledge to do so,” he said. In addition to mentoring, he is active in his fraternity, Sigma Lambda Beta, helping to bring cultural awareness to campus through events such as the Miss Latina Cultural Pageant. He was recently appointed the Director of Cultural Affairs of the Student Association. In this position, he hopes to make a greater impact on campus to spread cultural awareness of the Latino as well as other communities. Those activities are his way of paying forward what others have done for him, he says. “The instructors and mentors who have guided me during my stay at NIU have given me the support and the push to be successful. Now I want to motivate the next generation of students to pursue their dreams.” While working on behalf of the community, he has not neglected his studies. He maintains a 3.35 GPA in a challenging program; has excelled as a member of the University Honors Program; and along the way, has picked up honors including the Kevin D. Knight Sophomore Leadership Award and the Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus scholarship for academic excellence and leadership. That record of achievement inside and outside of the classroom has people expecting big things of him after graduation. He is preparing for the extra challenges of being a male nurse and a Latino. “People will look at me like I’m a doctor. Patients, especially women, may not be comfortable sharing information with me. I’ll face micro-aggressions, and people questioning if I am even fit for this job,” he said. His strategy: “I’m making sure that if I’m going to be questioned that I DO know. I will show that I’m qualified by giving the greatest care in the world.” Flores aspires to work in cardiology or emergency room nursing. And, although he is bilingual, he plans to pursue an associate degree in Spanish so he can speak eloquently; using the correct medical terminology – and not jargon – to communicate with patients. His professors know he’s on the right track. “Luis Flores will be a difference-maker in health care in the future,” says Mary Rudnicki, a member of the faculty at the NIU School of Nursing. “He has the potential to be a catalyst in the promotion of inclusivity and culturally sensitive health care.” Flores has a few ideas for those already in the position to hire him and his fellow soon-to-be graduates. “Take advantage of the opportunity to hire new grads. They are very passionate about what they want to do,” he said. He’s no exception.

HEALTH FEATURE

COVER

DR. DAVID HAYES-BAUTISTA: THE PROPHET OF LATINO HEALTH Story by: Judi Jordan 38 â&#x20AC;¢ May / June 2017

Photo: Kyle Espeleta

Design by: Carlos Cuevas

In fact, Hayes-Bautista’s foray into medicine in 1970 at La Clinca de la Raza was an eye-opener. “I got a quick introduction into health care research demography because we had to provide services in the Fruitvale District, and there were almost no medical services,” he said. “We decided that we were going to provide medical services and we were going to do them in Spanish, and we were going to do it for free and we had exactly $240 to start with!” This coincided with Hayes-Bautista’s graduate studies at UCSF; his daily activities at the clinic and his basic health sciences studies matured harmoniously. He’s a holistic thinker. “I have always defined health very, very broadly. So it’s not simply physical absence of disease; it’s actually also well-being of the family and the community in which they live.” Never silent or idle, Hayes-Bautista just published his sixth book, “La Nueva California:Latinos from Pioneers to Post-Millennials.” He believes passionately in the future of young Latinos, and the importance of leadership. He is very concerned, therefore, with the lack of Latino medical staff to carry forward the work, and writes fervently on the topic. “The Latino Physician Shortage,” published in 2000, lamented the lack of doctors. Incredibly, in the 17 years since, the gap has widened.

“Latinos are one of the best things that happened to California, currently, historically and into the future!”

Dr. Hayes-Bautista’s

research focuses on the dynamics and processes of the health of the Latino population using both quantitative data sets and qualitative observations. His publications appear in Family Medicine, the American Journal of Public Health, Family Practice, Medical Care and Salud Pública de México.

Education: PhD, Medical Sociology, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco MA, Medical Sociology, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco BA, University of California-Berkeley

He’s very worried about the lack of Latino doctors, nurses, and especially dentists. HayesBautista groans. “It’s gotten worse! Likewise the Latino nurse situation has gotten worse, and the dentist shortage is so bad it makes the physician shortage look good! The community lacks proper linguistic care; not enough doctors nurses, etc. In spite of all that, we have spectacular health, so I would say we need to see what drives this Latino epidemiological paradox and can we transfer that to non Latinos?” Always a ‘big picture’ man, Hayes-Bautista focused on where his findings led him, trusting the conclusions. “In 1978 I pulled the little information together that I had, and made my first presentation at the American Public Health Association conference in L.A. The 1980 census data came out; we were able to do demographic modeling and projections to the year 2030. It was clear to me that the Latino community was going to grow from being a very small segment into what it is now. We basically hit every census on the nose. California was going to have to adjust how it saw and dealt with the Latin population from being a small minority to being close to a majority.”

HEALTH FEATURE

Enthusiastic, inspiring, tireless, proactive, prolific and statistic-savvy, Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, has actively devoted his life to the practical study and application of Latino health and history. The Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Hayes-Bautista sees each of these qualities as being deeply intertwined. This satisfying quest has filled six books, with another three in the works. Delightfully divergent to many intellectuals, Dr. Hayes-Bautista is an optimist. Part compadre, part ‘man of the people’ and part avid scholar, he is ‘all in’ when it comes to Latino health as a future gateway to survival — and power. “I studied basic sciences at the University California Medical Center in San Francisco,” said Hayes-Bautista, who left San Francisco to join the faculty at the School of Public Health in UC Berkeley. “I received tenure and then was recruited to UCLA, where I am now Distinguished Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine,” he said. “I run the Center for Latino Health and Culture, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. We study all different facets of Latino health and try to discover the linkage between daily behavior and health outcome.” With a half century invested in the investigation and improvement of Latino health, no one challenges the credentials of the man; Hayes-Bautista is the preeminent expert. Accordingly, when asked to speak about himself, culture comes first. “I’m eighth-generation American of Mexican origin,” he proudly points out. This is who Hayes-Bautista is above all, and it’s why he’s the best at what he does. Born in Los Angeles and raised in California’s Central Valley, Hayes-Bautista is a BIG fan of California and vocal on the state’s importance as the Latino power seat in the U.S. He graduated from UC-Berkeley and completed his master’s and Ph.D. in Medical Sociology at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco. Hayes-Bautista multi-tasked his way through graduate school. “I graduated from Berkeley in 1970, and got involved in setting up La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary soon,” said Hayes-Bautista, who does not come from a medical background. “Other than the fact that I had an aunt in Mexico who was a curandera, and another who was a nurse in Los Angeles, there were no health professionals in the family,” he said.

HEALTH FEATURE

Many underestimated the Latino boom, but not Hayes-Bautista. “It was clear to me that Latinos had different demographics than non-Hispanic whites.” Hayes-Bautista got his information at the source. “Because I had to negotiate OB contracts with the hospital, I saw that while the non-Hispanic baby boom was over, and they were aging and there was no immigration, it was clear that the Latino population was growing. We were having high fertility and the nonHispanic white baby boom was over, but ours was just beginning.”

Back to the “Latino” Future. “In 1988 my first book was published: ‘The Burden of Support – Young Latinos in an Aging Society.’ This was the first academic book that projected that by 2030 California would be 45% Latino and pretty much we hit it, we’re at 40% already, we’ll hit 45% by 2030.” “We had this vision for the last 50 years. Our goal was to have healthy, empowered families and healthy, empowered communities that include not only physical but mental health, economic health, political health, spiritual health. Those are the directions my research is going in and cover the gamut from HIV to high-level wellness.” Hayes-Bautista‘s prophetic books “Latinos in the Golden State,” “Cinco de Mayo an American Tradition,” and “Nueva California, Latino Pioneers to Post Millennials” carry the message in historic context. In his recent book, Hayes-Bautista had to add a bitter truth. “I updated the last chapter and quoted Donald Trump because I saw him coming — and he did fit a ‘pattern’ of nativism that we have seen in California history. It fit the pattern perfectly.” 40 • May / June 2017 40 • May / June 2017

Diametrically opposed to Trump’s ‘ideas,’ Hayes-Bautista leads the positive resistance. “Latinos are one of the best things that happened to California, currently, historically and into the future! In my books I give Latinos ‘voice’ and ‘agency’ to discover how we are managing the state of California, how have we, and how will we? We Latinos seem to have some good ideas and have the best interest of the state at heart.” Fascinated by the enduring strength of Latino health, Hayes-Bautista has been studying what he terms “Latino Epidemiological Paradox” for 35 years. The puzzling discovery that Latinos are healthier than the rest of the population despite having fewer resources both delights and haunts him. “This paradox is not predicted by the models I was taught at UCSF; I do not predict Latino health outcomes, I report them and try to understand them. Latinos across the nation have less income, less education, less access to health care and yet we have nationally 30% lower mortality for heart disease, 35% lower cancer mortality, 25% stroke mortality 60% lower respiratory disease, a 30% lower cause of death rate compared to non Hispanic whites. The one exception is diabetes. We have a 3½- year-longer life expectancy, and at age 72, that’s looking good to me.”

“Latino post-millennials hold the future of this country in their hands. If everybody Latinizes and has the same edificial health as Latinos, we’d save 200,000 lives a year! I think that’s a wonderful gift that Latinos give the country.”

Some things just don’t add up when it comes to Latinos and insurers. “Of course, we’re following health care reform closely. From an insurance standpoint, young, healthy Latinos are an ideal population to get into on an insurance pool. Yet, Latinos have the highest rate of uninsured of any population, highest among immigrants prior to Obamacare, and now it’s gone down to 30%, whereas the rest of population is down to 10% and yet

Sharing the secrets of Latino longevity and health with the world is his dream. “Now that would be real, true health reform! What makes Latinos live 3½ years longer, on average?” He has yet to crack that mystery. Hayes-Bautista puzzles delightedly over his paradox, looking for the singular X factor that has eluded him. “It’s something that Latinos do every day! Is it diet? Family? Spirituality? Mind-body balance? There’s something that Latinos are doing that’s good for the health outcomes, but I don’t know what it is yet! My goal is to find out what Latinos are doing, so we can share it with our nonLatino neighbors. I want to understand the origins of Latino health patterns; we’re doing more clinical practice studies trying to figure out the future, and also are studying Latino post millennials.” Heavy is the crown that David Hayes-Bautista places on the next generation of Latinos: “Latino postmillennials hold the future of this country in their hands. If everybody Latinizes and has the same edificial health as Latinos, we’d save 200,000 lives a year! I think that’s a wonderful gift that Latinos give the country.” Bilinguals live longer. Latinos who speak Spanish and English fare better, according to Hayes-Bautista’s colleague, Xavier Cagigas, the Director of the Cultural Neuropsychology Initiative (CNI) and Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. Cagigas attests that bilingual brains function much better in face of Alzheimer’s because they have what he calls the “cognitive reserve”; the brain has greater plasticity.

SOURCES:

•Hayes-Bautista, David E., Nueva California. The University of California Press. Berkeley. November 2004 •Hayes-Bautista, David E., and Roberto Chiprut, Healing Latinos: Realidad y Fantasía. CedarsSinai Medical Center, 1999. •Hayes-Bautista, David E., No Longer a Minority; Latinos and Social Policy in California. Los Angeles, UCLA/Chicano Studies Research Center, 1992. •Hurtado, Aida, David E. Hayes-Bautista, et al., Redefining California: Latino Social Engagement in a Multicultural Society. Los Angeles: UCLA/ Chicano Studies Research Center, 1992. •Hayes-Bautista, David E., Werner Schink, and Jorge Chapa, The Burden of Support: The Young Latino Population in an Aging American Society. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1988. •Hayes-Bautista, David E.; Firebaugh, Hon. Marco Antonio; Chamberlin, Cynthia L.; Gamboa, Cristina “Reginaldo Francisco del Valle, UCLA’s Forgotten Forefather” The Southern California Quarterly, HSSC. Forthcoming Spring 2006 •Hayes-Bautista, David E., Ph.D.; Hsu, Paul, M.S.P.; Perez, Aide, B.S.; Sosa, Lucette, B.S. Gamboa, B.S. “Hepitatis A: The Burden Among Latino Children in California” Salud Publica de Mexico/ Vol. 47, No.6, Nov-Dec. 2005 •Hayes-Bautista, David E., “Research on Culturally Competent Healthcare Systems; Less Sensitivity, More Statistics”, The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 24 No. 3. April 2003 •Hayes-Bautista, David E., Hsu, Paul; Perez, Aide; Gamboa, Cristina. “The ‘Browning’ of the Graying of America: Diversity in the Elderly Population and Policy Implications” Generations Journal of the American Society on Aging. Volume XXV1, Number 3, pgs. 15-24. Fall 2002. Hayes-Bautista, David E.; Hsu, Paul; HayesBautista, Maria; Iñiguez, Delmy; Chamberlin, Cynthia L.; Rico, Christian; Solorio, Rosa “An Anomaly Within the Latino Epidemiological Paradox; The Latino Adolescent Male Mortality Peak” Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Vol. 156, pgs. 480-484 May 2002

Diabetes is the killer exception. “Diabetes is the major exception as a disease in any lifestyle. It is not just affecting Latinos in the U.S.; it’s also in Mexico. We are seeing higher rates of diabetes around the world; it is the No. 7 cause of Latino death. And women generally have lower death rate — except in diabetes cases.” Who are, in fact, the Latinos at the highest risk? “Latinos with no college education, non-Spanish speaking who drink, smoke and do drugs. Not speaking Spanish is associated with poor health outcome.” Is depression as big a factor in Latino communities as others? “Mental health is under diagnosed. We do not have a very clear picture here. Research has not caught up to where the population is. Mental health is not my area of expertise; it’s not quite as easy as heart, cancer and stroke. There is a lack of mental health providers.”

Dr Hayes-Bautista’s Latinos are “GOOD HOMBRES.” “In fifty years I’ve seen, studied and concluded Latinos have extraordinarily good social behavior. The rate of labor participation is higher. We work more hours than any other group, there are more Latinos working in the private sector, less in public sector, we use welfare less, have stronger families, set up businesses at 10 times the rate of others, and live 3½ years longer! If everybody could be like Latinos, it would be a much better country. Bottom line: if America adapted the good genebuilding habits of Latinos, 200,000 lives would be saved each year.” Savoring life is inherently Latino, according to Dr. Hayes-Bautista. In his off-hours, Hayes-Bautista enjoys spending time with his wife, Teodocia Maria, who also works in the health sector, doing … guess what? “We love researching Latino health together. My wife and I enjoy the life of the mind.” When the devoted couple isn’t poring over medical journals and health statistics for fun, they travel to Mexico, Latin America and Spain. “We’ll enjoy dinner in Mexico City, Lima or Valencia, experiencing the world together with food, drink or data, whatever form it may take.”

HEALTH FEATURE

the young healthy Latinos who generally don’t need health services were excluded from enrollment. The undocumented and recent immigrants were unable to participate in the insurance pool. Yet, from an actuarial perspective, those were exactly who you’d want in the pool because they would subsidize the elderly. So everybody got the worst of all possible worlds! We basically shot ourselves in both feet by excluding young, healthy Latinos who happen to be recent immigrants and/or undocumented!”

HEALTH FEATURE

THE FACTS BEHIND

COMMON ILLNESSES

By: Eliana Osborn

he medical field is constantly in flux as new treatments are devised and research opens doors to better understanding disease. Certain conditions are more common in Latinos, due to both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. These three health care professionals are combining their culture and expertise to advance access and understanding of the complexities involved in modern medicine. DIABETES Aida L. Maisonet Giachello has always been interested in one-on-one research: talking to individuals to collect data through interviews. That passion for people has taken her to the head of the field, working on the sociological aspects of health and illness, especially in the Latino community. Aida earned her PhD in medical sociology at the University of Chicago in 1988. She is currently a Research Professor of Preventative Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She’s on the Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association and a member of the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism. In 2005, TIME magazine named her one of the “25 Most Influential Hispanics in America” for her work as a health activist. Diabetes is a growing medical crisis around the world, including in the United States. Twenty-six million Americans have diabetes or are at risk, with an estimated 5 million who are

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IN LATINOS

undiagnosed. In the Latino community, as many as 25 to 30 percent of the population has the condition, depending on where they live. Female Latinos are more likely to be afflicted, and more than one-third of those over age 65 have diabetes. Giachello points to a number of reasons that diabetes is so prevalent in Hispanics: obesity, poverty, genetic predisposition and avoidance of medical care. The problem isn’t just in the U.S., either — she says diabetes is the number one cause of death in Mexico City. “People don’t die of diabetes,” Giachello says. “They die of complications.” Untreated diabetes means not keeping blood sugar levels under control. That can lead to blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, stroke, amputation and other serious issues. With such scary conditions on the table, dealing with diabetes can seem overwhelming. But there’s strong evidence of strategies that can help individuals and communities manage diabetes and live long, healthy lives. It used to be primarily older people who would be diagnosed, but now diabetes is increasing in teens and young adults. The culprit? Body weight. This is especially true in Latinos; one-third of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, while 75 percent of Latinos are in the same category. And Latino children are becoming obese at higher rates, too. That’s why prevention and delaying the onset of diabetes is so crucial. Even with genetic factors that make diabetes more likely,

Aida L. Maisonet Giachello Founder of the Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center at the University of Illinois-Chicago

HEALTH FEATURE

a healthy lifestyle can decrease Xavier Cagigas your likelihood of developing the Director of the Cultural disease until later in life. Giachello Neuropsychology Initiative at has focused much of her work on community health workers, getting UCLA them trained to spread education and facts about diabetes from those Why is language so important living with the disease. in mental health? Cagigas says that When Giachello started in we think differently in our first and health research in the late 1960s, second language. If an assessment services for Spanish speakers is done in just one language, a were few and far between. Add doctor will get different results. to that cultural differences “Usually your first language is more about preventative medical care emotional,” he explains. “So if you and insurance, and it meant only ask questions in a second that Latinos were not getting language, you may not get those information about how to prevent kind of answers,” which are crucial and manage chronic conditions. to making a correct diagnosis. She began working on policy with As the United States is the Commissioner of Health in becoming more and more diverse, Chicago and was able to impact the issues in culturally competent 44 community health clinics. diagnosis and treatment are getting COURTESY OF UCLA-DAVID GEFFEN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Policy changes include making more attention in the medical field. neighborhoods healthier: when fast Those who donate extensively to food is more accessible than fruits and vegetables, busy research organizations like the National Institutes of Health families eat poorly. Broken sidewalks make walking more (NIH) are making sure research is more inclusive. Otherwise, difficult, and worries about violence can keep people inside. science findings don’t match up with real world populations. And the stress of immigration, work, and family can increase And that means poor outcomes or missed opportunities to sugar levels. How do we handle stress? Lots of us eat more or help those who are suffering. smoke, which is doubly dangerous if you are diabetic. Many elements of Latin culture are what Cagigas calls Giachello believes that early prevention is key to “mentally protective.” That is, these practices are good for us changing the diabetes problem. That means getting — they help us handle stress and live balanced lives. Things pregnant when you are at a healthy weight and keeping like being community-oriented instead of individualistic, active while pregnant. Gestational diabetes can lead to social involvement, lots of physical contact — all of these large babies with a higher chance of diabetes themselves. things are good for mental health. Latinos have struggled Wellness checkups for kids — and adults — mean doctors when they’ve rejected traditional culture, especially when can keep track of weight and blood sugar before serious immigrating. The strain of a “hybrid identity” when you try problems arise. to assimilate can be psychologically harmful. Giachello founded the Midwest Latino Health So the shift in society and medicine, seeing the Research, Training and Policy Center at the University of benefits of bilingual and biculturalism, is welcome, Cagigas Illinois at Chicago. Through the center, education on what says. Bilingual brains functions differently, organizing causes diabetes and how to treat it, in culturally sensitive and building more connections. The research shows that ways, has been crucial. Giachello believes that knowledge is “bilingual people have healthier brains,” Cagigas notes. the key to preventing complications of diabetes and erasing His work with the CNI aims for better treatment of mental the myths that surround it. “You have to be in control and health issues by using culture in a positive way. empower yourself to be on top of [your disease],” she says. “We need to reclaim and celebrate cultural practice instead of apologize for them,” says Cagigas. “As a MENTAL group, then Latinos will be healthier and healthier.” For too long, being bilingual and bicultural has been Interdependence —being part of a family and community seen as a negative. Psychologist Xavier Cagigas of UCLA — helps people weather the storms of life. Trying to fit in is part of a growing contingent of researchers who sees to the dominant culture and feeling negative about your things differently. The more we learn, the more scientists heritage can lead to stress. see how hybrid identities can actually protect brains and Many mental health challenges are the result of communities. dissonance. Trying to fit in and reject things important Cagigas is the director of the Cultural Neuropsychology to you is especially damaging. Acculturation is a natural Initiative at UCLA, an innovative psychology program process, but it is one Latinos and others need to be mindful focused on providing services for Spanish speakers and of. A solid psychological state is built on understanding what bilingual Spanish-English speakers. He holds a PhD in you value in everyday life. Cagigas says that mood — and clinical psychology from UCSD and is an assistant clinical people’s immune systems — are strengthened when they professor at UCLA. work to retain some of the collectivism of Latino culture.

HEALTH FEATURE

Business and science are finally recognizing the benefits of bilingualism. In the medical field, a bilingual provider is more efficient and cost effective. In children, bilingualism means better executive function — planning and organizing, thinking about the future, that sort of thing. There are real, measurable benefits of bilingualism in things like Alzheimer’s disease. While knowing two languages won’t prevent Alzheimer’s, Cagigas says serious symptoms typically develop four to six years later for bilinguals. Brains are complex systems, where genetics and environmental factors work together. Cagigas and others in the psychology field are diligently working to make sure language and culture are understood in terms of how they impact mental health. By meeting patients where they are — in all their linguistic and cultural complexity — doctors can provide the best care possible.

careful about their food choices if they want to protect themselves. “A good initiative would be to educate young people about healthy eating habits,” Garcia says, noting that there are ways to serve lighter versions of traditional foods. Another problem in the Latino community is an attitude that cancer won’t happen to you if you don’t have a family history, smoke or are overweight. According to Garcia, research finds that “the majority of cancers occur by bad luck.” That means that most people who get cancer have no control over the situation. We do know that Hispanics with cancer usually are diagnosed at later stages, when the disease is more advanced and harder to treat. Why? They haven’t gone to the doctor for regular checkups Fernando Garcia and screening. There is a myriad of issues involved, including access to health care Pathologist at Cancer and socioeconomics. But Garcia says that Treatment Centers of men in particular don’t go to the doctor America® until their health problems are serious. “If we could figure out ways to utilize more CANCER visiting nurses or medical professionals that the Latino Fernando Garcia received his medical training at community feels comfortable with, that would definitely the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Medical help,” he explains. School in Lima, Peru, before heading to the United Knowing what care you need and how to get it can States for his residency. He completed a residency be overwhelming, especially if you have to worry about in pathology at the University of Kansas, followed language barriers or how to pay for it. “Being a patient is a by a fellowship in surgical pathology and infectious daunting task if you don’t have access to education,” Garcia diseases at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He has says. Access to information is an area where a lot of change served on the faculty at the University of Kansas and is needed. But each of us has to take responsibility and be Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, and in charge of our own health. currently serves as a pathologist at Cancer Treatment Garcia’s main recommendation would be to Centers of America®. “understand that body weight is involved in many Pathologists are behind the scenes of cancer care, diseases.” That fact needs to be explained and the focus working with their microscopes to analyze tumors and on education needs to be more robust, as it is one of the cells. With an oncologist, the pathologist provides the main areas individuals have control over. Eating, drinking information necessary to determine treatment based on and exercise can all be managed in ways that fit within the specific DNA profile of a particular cancer. Garcia your own lifestyle. explains how the field of cancer care is changing, thanks For Latinos to improve their health outcomes, Garcia to advances in pathology. says there needs to be a shift in how they view medical “Cancer not a single disease within each organ; care. Preventative care like cancer screenings and wellness there are multiple subtypes of cancers,” he says. “It visits can catch problems early — that’s when cutting edge has become a very complicated state of affairs. By personalized treatments can make the most difference. understanding the DNA of cells, we now can offer Cancer isn’t a one-size-fits-all disease that you have to be patients individual therapies that are tailored to that afraid of. Garcia and others on the forefront of cancer particular cancer.” research are learning more every day. To take advantage Recent research has found genetic issues in Latinos of these advances, the Latino community should stay throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the United States informed and go see their doctors. predispose people to obesity. Garcia notes that obesity increases the risk for certain types of cancers, especially breast and prostate. That means Latinos need to be more Find our leaders online! www.latinoleaders.com

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TURNED A LOVE OF MATH INTO A LIFE-SAVING MEASURE

By: Joe Dyton

rom now on, when someone asks, “When am I ever going to use algebra in the real world?”, they need look no further than Sara Del Valle. She’s been using the principles of solving equations learned in algebra to help save lives for more than a decade. No, seriously. Del Valle is a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., where she has worked on developing, integrating and analyzing mathematical and computational models for the spread of infectious diseases such as smallpox, anthrax, malaria, HIV and influenza on a pandemic scale. “For the first time, I realized I could use my love of math and also impact people by developing models that can help understand infectious disease and hopefully save lives,” Del Valle said. “I felt like helping people through my math love was the perfect combination for me.”

They use a number of sophisticated simulations and play out “what if” scenarios to see how they may be able to stop a disease from spreading. They are also studying the use of Internet data streams, such as social media, to capture emergent behaviors during disease outbreaks to measure the potential impact of mitigation strategies. Technology is also a big part of the team’s research. Much like the concept of the game “Sim City,” Los Alamos uses large-scale computer simulations with office buildings, malls, schools, etc., to study and understand how diseases spread in real populations. They use these simulations to explore the impact of optimal mitigation strategies such as school and airport closures, quarantine, and other containment measures to figure out how to best halt the spread of diseases.

“I feel like globalization has increased our potential exposure to many more diseases due to our highly interconnected world,” she said. “Containing diseases is a challenge now. Even if you close borders or stop airplanes coming from the areas that are impacted, the chances of you containing them are small because there are so many other ways that people can travel that is nearly impossible to halt disease spread.” Del Valle and her team believe the best way to develop more accurate models that can inform decision makers is to get their hands on as much data as they can. “I think the amount of data we’re constantly generating through new technologies such as FitBit and Apple Watch, could create new opportunities for models that we never imagined before,” she said. “If that data could somehow be compiled and used for health purposes, I think everyone could benefit.” Del Valle already has accomplished so much in her field, but she still has her eyes on a bigger goal — to create a disease forecasting system. Ideally, people would be able see forecasts of the disease-spreading dynamics at the country, state or even city level — much like how they would get their weather forecast. “If we had highly granular data for all diseases and all countries, then we could develop these systems that anyone could access,” Del Valle said. “A disease forecasting system would also help public health departments by allowing them to prepare ahead of time the right amount of resources and staff.” When Los Alamos National Laboratory isn’t preventing infectious diseases from spreading, it is helping develop the next generation of scientists. Every summer, Los Alamos offers a number of programs for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The programs, which offer summer schools focusing on cyber, engineering, machine learning and more, bring in more than 1,000 students every year. Los Alamos is a part of the Department of Energy (DOE), which offers scholarships for minority students. Del Valle has mentored students who have received academic funding from the DOE, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), all which provide research programs for underrepresented minorities. “Our programs are crucial for building a pipeline,” Del Valle said. “A large percentage of the Lab’s workforce started as students. I started here as a graduate student. I think student internships at Los Alamos allow students to test the waters of research and they open the door for future employment. My recommendation to students is that if you want to stay here, you need to work hard and become indispensable and the rest should fall into place.”

HEALTH FEATURE

SARA DEL VALLE:

HEALTH FEATURE

Efrain Talamantes, MD

Associate Director at Center for Reducing Health Disparities UC Davis School of Medicine By: Sarai Vega

EFRAIN TALAMANTES: MENTORING TOMORROW’S DOCTORS

n his youth, Efrain Talamantes was sure of one thing: he’d grow up to help those in need. As a son of Mexican immigrants, his story was much like those of other families who have come from foreign countries, yet unique in its own way. As the oldest child in his family, he regularly shadowed his parents and remained prepared for when they needed translation. However, he never lost sight of what was always important

to him. “Education was fundamentally an opportunity for me to help my family directly,” said Talamantes, the Associate Director at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities in UC Davis School of Medicine. He recalls volunteering in his earlier days and seeing the extensive line of Latinos waiting for a Spanish-speaking physician to attend to them. It is then when he realized his mission. He called this experience “transformational,” though Talamantes felt that more needed to be done. Talamantes, the founder of MiMentor Organization and a recipient of the 2015 Voto Latino Innovators Challenge Award, has created a community of mentorship. “One of the key areas we wanted to address was to improve mentoring for young Latinos who are interested in healthcare and interested in health careers,” Talamantes said. One of the motives driving him to create this organization was the lack of Latinos in healthcare-related professions. Latinos account for a mere 5% of the total physician population. “If you think about the percentage of Latinos in high school and even in college, there is just a lot of work to do,” he said. “We felt that by using technology, we could leverage our ability to mentor more students and provide them with our stories of overcoming some of the common

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challenges that we face as first-generation students and also provide them with good information.” The MiMentor App is a platform for healthcare professionals of all backgrounds, where they have access to answers, mentorship opportunities, events and programs. Talamantes hopes that through this mentorship network, he will be able to create a ripple effect. Ultimately, his plan is to motivate young Latino students to pursue a career in healthcare and become physicians who are accessible to the underserved Latino community. “One of the key things for us is to ensure mentors know how important they are to this equation of success in changing and improving the statistics,” he said. Dr. Talamantes has experienced the struggle first-hand. He knows how important it is to connect to the community through culture and language. “We really see that one of the fundamental solutions to improve the health of our community is to be represented,” he said. “We want our Latino students to understand that they come in with strength because of their culture.” MiMentor has become a much-needed tool for healthcare professionals to start creating opportunities for future generations. “We really need to have mentors to make these pathways accessible.”

About MiMentor App:

-Available in iOS and Android -Open to any healthcare professional and college students. -Access to information on internships, scholarship and summer programs. -Approximately 600 students have been mentored. -Instant connection to other healthcare professionals and students.

LEADING FORCE BEHIND CANCER RESEARCH AT CITY OF HOPE HOSPITAL

By: Eliana Osborn

lex Herrera knew he wanted a career that blended science and people. Job shadowing during his undergraduate years at Princeton University made it clear that medicine would work perfectly for him. That led to him earning an MD from Harvard, with a residency in internal medicine, then a hematology-oncology fellowship. Herrera has been at City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles for the past three years, specially focused on hematology and lymphoma. About 10 years ago, when Herrera was starting medical school, there was a boom in cancer treatment. Immunotherapy began to be used to attack cancers of all types. As he began to get more involved in cancer medicine, he realized what an exciting time it was to be in the field. “We’re learning so much about how cancer works,” Herrera says. “There’s an explosion of potential new treatments.” Herrera loves the research side of medicine as well as the patient care aspect, so understanding the genetics of lymphoma tumors has been a passion for him. His two areas of research these days include developing new medications for those with treatment resistant cancer. There are drugs in various phases of clinical trials, and some of that involves immune therapies. He also studies how patients respond to different treatments. “If you know how is likely to respond, before treating them, you can choose the best approach,” he said. By studying biomarkers within the tumors themselves, Herrera and others like him are harnessing cutting edge technology. They sequence the gene of tumors, not just taking samples and doing tissue stains as doctors have done traditionally. And a powerful computer program can analyze things like the distance between different immune cells in a tumor. That gives the hematologist information about what treatment will work best. One of Herrera’s most exciting fields of focus is called MRD: Minimal Residual Disease. This biomarker can be used to track where a tumor can release cancer cells into the bloodstream. A blood test using MRD — cheaper than a full body scan — also can be done to find cancer cells in the body.

Herrera did his medical training in Boston, but he is enjoying his time in Los Angeles with a large minority population. “As a Latino physician, most of my patients are Latino, and I’ve found that rewarding,” he said. “Patients really appreciate when they have a provider that not only speaks their language but also has some understanding of their culture.” One thing Herrera wants to do at City of Hope is let people in the community know that the hospital is there, with cutting edge cancer care, right in people’s backyards. “It is important to me to reach out to Latino patients and offer them the most advanced treatments and trials.” Access continues to be an issue for medical care in all minority communities, which often means patients don’t get the most up-to-date care. Herrera says it is a priority to get all patients the same standard of care, no matter where they live or what their background is. Herrera says the future is bright for lymphoma patients. There is “great potential for these drugs to treat lymphoma that was previously difficult to treat. Chemotherapy is still important, but if it isn’t working, we have many opportunities to try to treat with high effectiveness.” He sees positive signs for minority professionals in the medical field, too. Latinos may not be highly visible in medical leadership, but there are lots of people working hard on the ground. There exists an understanding that diverse viewpoints are needed in research and patient care. “Mentorship has been critical for my career,” Herrera says. And it is something he continues to be involved in through the American Society of Hematology.

Alex Herrera, MD

Assistant Professor City of Hope Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

HEALTH FEATURE

ALEX HERRERA:

HEALTH FEATURE

By: Eliana Osborn

CHRIS DUKE:

FIGHTING THE BATTLE AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER

nnually, more than 500,00 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer globally and at any time, there are approximately 2.5M women living with the disease. Despite the availability of vaccines against HPV which make HPVrelated cancers almost entirely preventable, more than 13,000 women in the US alone are diagnosed annually with cervical cancer and 4,200 women will succumb to the disease. The incidence of cervical cancer for Latina women in the United States is highest amongst all racial/ethnic groups, almost twice as high as non-Latina white women. In addition, Latina women have the 2nd highest mortality rate from cervical cancer (after black women), although mortality for Latina women is higher than black women in communities along the Texas-Mexico border. Why is the rate of cervical cancer so high for Latinas? Unfortunately, there is a low rate of vaccination rates and cervical cancer screening in the Latina community due to a combination of factors, including fear associated with a lack of immigration status, embarrassment, lack of knowledge, lack of insurance and lack of English proficiency. As a result, in 2015, 2,000 Hispanic women were diagnosed and 600 died. There has been little to no drug development in recent years in cervical cancer in part due to the relatively low number of cases compared to other cancer types and because of the expectation that vaccination against HPV would essentially eradicate the disease. In the last 30 years, there has only been 1 drug approved by the Food & Drug Administration to treat cervical cancer. In the meantime,

48 • May / June 2017

women continue to die from the disease. This doesn’t need to happen, and Chris Duke is leading the fight to eradicate this disease once and for all. Duke has only been at Advaxis since October 2016, but his career in the biotechnology industry started years earlier. After receiving a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University, he went on to earn an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. His current role as the Chief Operating Officer at Advaxis finds him combining all sides of his educational background while working for a company committed to finding a cure for cancer. Duke explains that his passion is focused on the patients that Advaxis treatments can help, saying ““Millions of women and their loved ones are currently struggling with cervical cancer, and they need new options. Not one of them should have to die from cervical cancer.” Cervical cancer can be treated most successfully when found early, like most cancers. Yearly gynecological checkups can catch aberrant cells early on. For patients with more locally-advanced disease, chemotherapy and radiation are most effective; however, even with successful treatment, approximately 50% of women will have a recurrence of cervical cancer or death within 4 years depending on their initial stage of disease. Upon recurrence, if the disease has metastasized, the 5-year survival rate is a mere 15%. Hispanic women have higher mortality rates than white women with cervical cancer because the disease is often found at a later stage. Early detection, through routine screening, means highly treatable cancer. Unfortunately, many Latinas don’t get a yearly gynecological visit. Many also don’t follow up on abnormal test results, allowing slow growing cervical cancer cells to progress. Once a cancer becomes metastatic, or spreads outside the area where it first appeared in the body, it becomes much harder to treat. Most people know about the cancer treatments that have been around for decades, including chemotherapy and radiation. While these therapies have helped and continue to help countless patients, they are typically not very targeted in their approach and often come with significant side effects. There is a new wave of therapies beginning to emerge which has shifted the way in which physicians treat cancer. This approach, referred to as immunotherapy, is quickly becoming the future of cancer research.

CHRIS DUKE, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT ADVAXIS

Immunotherapy is a new class of cancer treatment that works to harness the power of an individual’s own immune system to fight cancer. Cancers often hide and protect themselves from the immune system, but immunotherapies have shown the potential to overcome these challenges. Because of the immune system’s unique properties, these therapies may hold greater potential than current treatment approaches to fight cancer more powerfully, to offer longer-term protection against the disease, to have fewer side effects, and to benefit more patients with more cancer types. Advaxis, Inc. is developing its own novel immunotherapeutic approach to fight cancer. This proprietary platform technology, referred to as Lm TechnologyTM, uses a highly attenuated, bioengineered strain of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) bacteria to teach the immune system to view tumor cells as potentially bacterialinfected cells and eliminate them. This highly targeted approach is designed to stimulate cancer-fighting T-cells directed against cancer antigens and reduce factors that protect the tumor microenvironment from immunologic attack and contribute to tumor growth. In October 2016, Advaxis issued a press release highlighting data from a Phase 2 study evaluating its lead Lm Technology™ candidate, axalimogene filolisbac in patients with persistent or recurrent metastatic carcinoma of the cervical cancer, the toughest type to treat with the worst prognosis. The results were very encouraging, with a 52% increase in 12-month overall survival being observed.1 These groundbreaking findings led to the initiation of a Phase 3 study, the final step before FDA approval. Advaxis’ Phase 3 study, the AIM2CERV study, is currently enrolling. This study is designed for high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer, and is approaching the cure in a different way. Focused on women who have completed their cancer treatment and have been declared “cancer free” by their physicians, the goal of this study is to determine if axalimogene filolisbac can help women live longer without their disease returning. Duke explains the approach, “While some women with cervical cancer are considered cancerfree after chemotherapy and radiation, a significant number will experience a recurrence of the disease that is often more aggressive and results in a poor prognosis. And when cervical cancer comes back, it is inevitably fatal. Our purpose 1: HTTPS://SGO.CONFEX.COM/SGO/2017/MEETINGAPP.CGI/PAPER/8901

“In addition to our cervical cancer program, we are committed to supporting the patient community and patient organizations in an effort to empower women to become their own advocates and take control of their health whether it be through becoming vaccinated, obtaining regular gynecological exams or making more informed cancer treatment decisions.”

www.advaxis.com

HEALTH FEATURE

with AIM2CERV is to see if axalimogene filolisbac can prevent recurrence from ever happening, and let these women enjoy the rest of their lives.” The study is being conducted in almost 20 countries around the world, including several countries in North America and Latin America. More information on the study, and how to enroll, can be found by visiting www. aim2cerv.com. 1-844-755-5807 The company also recently announced plans to initiate another study with axalimogene filolisbac in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, Opdivo® (nivolumab), in women living with recurrent metastatic cervical cancer. This study is expected to start in the second half of 2017. “Advaxis is proud to be developing axalimogene filolisbac as a potential treatment for women living with cervical cancer. This community has been underserved for too long and deserves the innovation and advancements that can allow them to better fight their disease. In addition to our cervical cancer program, we are committed to supporting the patient community and patient organizations in an effort to empower women to become their own advocates and take control of their health whether it be through becoming vaccinated, obtaining regular gynecological exams or making more informed cancer treatment decisions.” Today, cervical cancer and other cancers caused by infectious agents disproportionately affect the Latino community. The work that Chris Duke and Advaxis are doing is trying to change this. Education about vaccines and regular cervical cancer screening will go a long way towards reducing the prevalence of the disease in the Latina community. But if cervical cancer strikes, the immunotherapy that Advaxis is developing may have the ability to stop the progression, and prevent the return of the disease. This is a remarkable advancement towards reducing mortality.

HEALTH FEATURE

TOP LATINO

PHYSICIANS

By:

Steve Penhollow Latinos are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States, according to a study from UCLA’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture. Their numbers having risen more than 200 percent since 1980. Unfortunately, the number Latino physicians declined by more than 20 percent during that same period. Hispanics are the least likely racial or ethnic group to seek medical care, according to a Census Bureau report. Language and cultural barriers are to blame, say many experts. Many Latino patients fear confusion and misunderstanding in their encounters with non-Latino medical professionals. Here are ten Latino physicians who have tried to buck those trends.

50 • May / June 2017

Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa

Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, commonly known as Dr. Q, received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco, where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in developmental and stem cell biology. His career began at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he became a Professor of Neurosurgery and Oncology, Neurology, and Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Director of the Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory. Nowadays, he is the “William J. and Charles H. Mayo Professor” and Chair of Neurologic Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Quiñones is known internationally as a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who leads NIHfunded research to cure brain cancer.

Dr. Guillermo GarciaManero

Dr. Garcia-Manero was born in Spain and received his medical degree at the University of Zaragoza in Spain. After completing his studies there and a research training period at the Royal Free Hospital in London, he completed a residency in internal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Subsequently, he completed a

fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Kimmel Cancer Center also at Jefferson Medical College. After his training, he moved to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He currently serves as the McCreedie Professor of Leukemia Research, Chief of the Section of MDS, and Deputy Chair for Translational Research in the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center where he leads on the largest MDS research programs in the world. He has published over 550 research manuscripts and has received multiple awards acknowledging his work.

Dr. Catalina Esperanza Garcia

Catalina Esperanza Garcia, a Dallas-area anesthesiologist, was one of the first Hispanic women to graduate from the University of TexasSouthwestern Medical School. Garcia attended the school at a time of racial strife: the 1960s. “So many times I’d run into people who had misconceptions of Latinos,” Garcia said. “I realized what they had been telling me – that I was different. I wasn’t different; they just hadn’t met enough of us. I felt I was carrying a burden in a way.” Garcia was the only woman of four in her class to successfully complete medical school. Garcia is a founding member of the philanthropic Dallas Women’s Foundation. She teaches English to immigrant women. She is the 2013 recipient of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hispanic 100 Latina Living Legend Award. In 2016, she received a Distinguished Alumni and Gold Nugget Award from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Joseph E. Garcia is a general surgeon based in Austin, Texas. He graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University with a degree in Microbiology and graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He performs surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotassisted surgical method that translates a surgeon’s hand movements into smaller and more precise robotic movements.

Dr. Ramón Rodríguez

Ramón Rodríguez is a board-certified neurologist based in Orlando, Florida whose specialties are movement disorders, tremors, dystonia, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. He is also known for using non-narcotic methods of treating chronic migraine headaches, including Botox treatments. Rodríguez is widely recognized as one of the leading Florida-based experts on Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease, also known as Huntington’s chorea, is an inherited disorder that results in death of nerve cells in the brain. In addition to his work in the clinical practice of the University of Central Florida, Rodríguez teaches at the UCF medical school and sees patients at the Orlando VA Medical Center.As a member of the global Parkinson’s Study Group, Rodríguez works with researchers and specialists from the nation’s top medical centers to increase understanding of that neurodegenerative disorder.

Dr. Pedro Francisco Lopez

Pedro Francisco Lopez is director for retina and vitreous diseases at the Center for Excellence in Eye Care in Miami, Florida. Lopez attended the University of Miami School of Medicine, specializing in Macular Surgery. He graduated with a Distinction in Research. He has done work with such prestigious

educational institutions as Harvard University, John’s Hopkins University, Emory University and the University of Southern California. Lopez is an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology. He is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Vitreous and Retina Societies, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Society of Heed Fellows, and the American Medical Association. He serves as a scientific referee for such ophthalmological journals as the American Journal of Ophthalmology, International Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology, and the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Annette Perez-Delboy

Annette Perez-Delboy is director of Labor & Delivery and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Operations for the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. She has expertise in amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, fetal reduction and fetal blood transfusions and has done research on preterm deliveries, recurrent pregnancy loss, cervical insufficiencies and cervical cerclages. Perez-Delboy is one of the few physicians who performs cerclages with the daVinci robot-assisted surgical system. Perez-Delboy is a member of the Fellow American College of Ob/Gyn (FACOG), the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the New York Obstetric Society (NYOBS), and the Association of Maternal Fetal Medicine Management (AMFMM).

Dr. Raul Hernandez

Raul Hernandez is a board certified urologist based in San Francisco, California. He is the president of Golden Gate Urology, with several locations in the Bay Area. Hernandez has practiced urology in northern California since 1990. He also serves as the chief of urology at Seton Medical Center and at St. Mary’s Hospital. Hernandez graduated from the University of Puerto Rico Medical School with high honors. He is

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a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and has also served as president of the California Integrated Physician Practice Association.

Dr. Michael Perez Mendez

Michael Perez Mendez is a Family Practice Specialist based in Lubbock, Texas. As a member of Lubbock Family Medicine, Mendez provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient medical services including adult and pediatric care and sports medicine. He is also well versed in women’s health and geriatrics. He graduated with honors from Texas Tech University Health Science Center School Of Medicine. Mendez is the recipient of a 2010 Family Medicine Award and a 2011 Sports Medicine Fellowship. In 2014, he was selected for inclusion in The Latino American Who’s Who.

Dr. Gustavo Rivera

Gustavo Rivera is a gastroenterologist based in Naples, Florida. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico and graduated with honors from the University of Puerto Rico. Prior to enrolling in the Central Caribbean University School of Medicine, he spent more than two years providing community health services in areas of Guadalajara, Mexico where the need was the greatest. He has conducted research into colorectal cancer prevention. Rivera has been a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine since 2011 and is a reviewer of the ACG Journal.

HEALTH FEATURE

Joseph E. Garcia

SPOTLIGHT

PATRICIA

ARVIELO: PASSING ON THE AMERICAN DREAM Story by: Kimberly Olguin 52 â&#x20AC;¢ May / June 2017

Photo: Courtesy of Patricia Arvielo

Design by: Carlos Cuevas

It all started with the American dream. She vividly remembers gazing at the beautiful mansions of San Clemente as her mother took the freeway down to visit Nana in Tijuana. “Someday, I will have a house like that,” she would tell herself, as she often did while envisioning her future. At just 6 years old, Patricia Arvielo knew where her ambition was. Hard work and saving were always part of the plan. The chores would get done and allowances were rarely spent. She was affectionately referred to as “Mi Coda” for her diligent frugality. By age 12, she officially entered the workforce, eager to earn her $25 a day. Always seeking opportunity, Arvielo advanced quickly in her career after following a lead at age 16 for the best paying job she could find. Little did she know; Trans Credit Union would give her much more than the much-anticipated $6 an hour. Midway through high school, Arvielo jumpstarted her career. She gradually advanced within the business, breaking into the mortgage industry at just 18, through hard work and experience alone. She didn’t go to college since education was not a priority in her family. “My mom has a fifth- or sixth-grade education,” she recalls. Her dad was a facilities maintenance man and mom was a maid, cleaning the houses for clientele that often were Arvielo’s schoolmates. Arvielo takes great pride in her upbringing. She looks back fondly at the success her parents had, despite not receiving a formal education. “My mom was an entrepreneur,” she proudly declares. “Mom got to make her own decisions and was always home when I arrived from school, while most of my friends had to wait to see their mothers after 5.” Later on, her parents teamed up to run a business cleaning places at night. Entrepreneurship certainly runs in the family. The example that her parents set inspired Arvielo as she progressed in her career. She also aspired to be a business owner but was hesitant early on. Like most leaders, Arvielo was further inspired to chase her dreams as a result of her failures. “Every one of my failures was a gift,” she says. As a young adult, she made the common mistakes that most people make, but she refused to let them keep her down. There were many difficult times: a failed marriage, bad finances and many other bumps along the way. Still, she is able to find the positive in all of it. Arvielo maintains that she benefited from making so many mistakes early in her adulthood. Those setbacks ultimately taught her valuable lessons and challenged her strength. “It’s how you deal with adversities that set aside those of us that are successful from those of us that are not,” she asserts. The difficult times would come and go, but the wisdom gained would stay with her. She eventually had all her cards lined up. A successful marriage, happy family and thriving career in the mortgage lending industry followed. But there was still something missing. Her husband, Rick, was the risk taker and convinced her to go all the way with her dreams. In 2003, the Arvielos launched their own business. ABOUT NEW AMERICAN FUNDING

Family-owned, New American Funding is an independent mortgage lender headquartered in Orange County, California, that is dedicated to helping other families and individuals improve their quality of living through home ownership. In 2003, founders Rick and Patty Arvielo combined their expertise to create a progressive business that quickly grew from a 40-employee call center into a national mortgage banker and industry powerhouse. Leveraging technology and streamlined

New American Funding started out as a call center with just 40 employees. The Arvielos say growing the business into an industry leader required the ultimate team effort. Rick brought his expertise in technology and marketing, creating the company’s own software, and later incorporating apps to maximize productivity and time. Meanwhile, Patty’s extensive experience made it possible to bring the entire loan process in house, as well as produce impressive sales numbers. In 14 short years, it has become a national mortgage banker and industry powerhouse. Arvielo is now the successful entrepreneur she always aspired to be. She pulled through many obstacles, starting from the bottom with nothing and climbing all the way to the top. Now she is the president of her own business — and not just any business. New American Funding is considered among the top 20 mortgage banks in the U.S. It also is the largest female-owned mortgage bank in the U.S, the largest Latina-owned mortgage bank in the U.S and within the top 2 percent of Latino-owned companies in the U.S. Arvielo has finally accomplished the American dream. When Arvielo looks back today, she reveals how it all was possible. “Mentorship is important. I taught myself through mentorship. I just looked up to the people that I was working for and absorbed everything they were doing,” she says. These days, she’s moved on to new endeavors. Though she is still running her business, she is now taking on mentorship and public speaking roles. “I spoke at Facebook last October because they have a lot of Latinas there with zero inspiration in the media,” Arvielo says, adding that she wants to inspire these women. Culture has always been important, and her Latina roots remain a critical force in this next phase of her life. “There is a lack of Latina leadership and mentorship in this country,” she says. “I want them to know that they can have it all; be great mothers, wives and entrepreneurs.” As a way of sharing her message, Arvielo has joined forces with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals for the past five years. Platforms like this, and the Latino Donor Collaborative, are the best ways she has found to reach out. What it comes down to for Arvielo is a passion for inspiring her community and creating positive changes. “Fifty-eight percent of our employees are women, 43 percent are minorities and our number one and two sales producers are women in this male-dominated industry,” Arvielo explains. “I tell my employees, ‘every home loan we close and every set of keys we hand off to a family is creating the American dream.’”

operations, they created a lending process that became highly efficient. Rick used his technical aptitude to design the New American Funding business model around timesaving software, while Patty provided crucial insight from her extensive mortgage background that ultimately brought the entire loan process in-house. Her hands-on cultivation of a topproducing salesforce that shared her passion for the community and her drive to succeed enabled the company to achieve

industry-leading loan closing times. Rick continued New American Funding’s forward momentum by capitalizing on his expansive marketing knowledge to spearhead the development of a state-of-the-art marketing division and a full in-house production studio where cutting-edge video content is routinely created. As the leadership has maintained a forward-looking approach, New American Funding formed the Latino Focus Committee in 2013 to address the

challenges Hispanic consumers face in their pursuit of home ownership. The committee upholds a passion for serving the community by participating in volunteer work and coordinating educational events for Latino Americans. The goal from the beginning has been to enhance the quality of their lending experience.

SPOTLIGHT

LASTING

LEGACY

NATALIE BODEN’S SUCCESSFUL CREATION OF HER OWN PR AGENCY CONTINUES HER FAMILY’S LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS. Story by: Joe Dyton

54 • May / June 2017

Photo: Courtesy of Natalie Boden

Design by: Carlos Cuevas

There was never a need for a crystal ball or fortune teller to predict Natalie Boden would run her own successful business one day. All one needed to do to gain that foresight was look at the work ethic she adopted at an early age. Boden is the president and founder of the Miami-based Boden, a cross-cultural communications agency that specializes in public relations and helps businesses in their effort to drive conversations, build communities and inspire cultural leadership. The agency was founded in 2006 as expert in the Hispanic market. That specialization helped the agency land some of the biggest brands in the country as clients, including McDonald’s and Target. “It was founded from the deep rooted passion for storytelling,” Boden said. “But we have morphed into an agency that can tell stories regardless of language. I feel particularly lucky that we were born from that passion for the press and what makes a good story.” Boden’s entrepreneurial spirit wasn’t developed in college or even high school, but when she was just seven years old. At the time, she had a lemonade stand and then spent her youth working at her parents’ store in Honduras. Her work ethic didn’t stop in college either, where she worked part-time jobs all the way through, all while playing volleyball and tennis. “There were no free Saturdays for me. I was always working,” she said.

They said, ‘Go ahead, you can do it.’” Her family was right. She turned her interest, storytelling, journalism and public relations into an agency that named to PR News’ Top Places to Work in PR List last year. She was also recently named to PRWeek’s 2017 Champions of PR list and received the Business Leadership Award from the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “(The PR News’ Top Places to Work) was big; out of all of the awards that we have won in this industry, I think that was our proudest moment,” Boden said. “Because if you’re a majority female company and you’re one of PR News’ best places to work, that means we are giving the kind of flexibility and building the culture people want to stay at.” That flexibility includes maternity leave; a benefit Boden couldn’t give herself when she first started her agency because she was running the operation solo. “The duality of motherhood and career was a difficult one for me in the sense that somewhere in the back of my head, I felt I had to stay home and tend to the children,” she said. “That has been my biggest challenge. This is a duality many women struggle with. I believe all women are entrepreneurs. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have a paycheck. It means you’re a woman of work.” A lot of Boden’s ability to move forward in her successful path comes from her father. He never gave her formal life or career advice, but her family traveled often, which gave her a larger sense of the world growing up. That influence stayed with her and encouraged her to do big things and to be in touch with what’s happening in the world on a larger scale.

“Mentors come in all shapes and forms. For me mentorship came in the form of my parents’ example; today I’m inspired by the team we have built.” While there’s no proof that entrepreneurship is hereditary, it definitely runs in Boden’s family. Not only did her parents run their own store, her grandmother did too. She started a textile shop in the 1960’s and 1970’s in Honduras and ran the operations as a single mother of three. The long line of entrepreneurship made it no surprise that when Boden decided she was going to open up her own business, too. It also was not much of a surprise that her family was 100% behind her when she made the announcement to them. “I come from a family that didn’t bat an eyelid when I said, ‘I want to own my own business. I want to be ambitious in what I do.’” Boden said. “My father especially, not just my mom (was supportive).

Today, Boden’s mentorship also comes from those that work at Boden. Working with them lets her learn new things every day, either by their actions or their philosophies. “Mentors come in all shapes and forms. For me mentorship came in the form of my parents’ example; today I’m inspired by the team we have built.” When it comes to where the agency is headed, Boden wants to continue on its track of Hispanic leadership and be a leader in the female segment. It is also important to her that the agency maintains a culture that makes people want to stay. “Being a leader is not about you,” Boden said. “It’s about giving other leaders the tools to continue to grow and lead in their own careers.”

LATINO LEADERS @JFerraez_Latino

RIOJA – RIBERA DEL DUERO

“MANO A MANO”

T IS THE SAME varietal: Tempranillo. Both the Rioja and Ribera del Duero growing regions are similar in type of soil, climate, vinification techniques and age of vineyards. One is near the Ebro river and the other to the Duero river and yet, their wines are so different in personality. Many would say is just a matter of perception, with some agreeing on the description of Riberas as intense, powerful and full bodied. Rioja fans would describe these wines as ample, fruity and complex. In both regions there are always experimentation and new “styles” that are producing more impressive, voluptuous and jammy wines. I have always had a lot of friends who would prefer Rioja: classic, delicate and with excellent new styles like the fantastic Remirez de Ganuza or Viñedos de paganos’ La Nieta or el Puntido. But I have always had friends who prefer Riberas above all, with fruity and powerful tastes. There we will find the legendary Vega Sicilia or his little brother ALION and many others. So, listening to the voices that were cheering one or the other, I decided to organize a “mano a mano” contest to compare both regions. Rioja was definitively bright, nutty, fruity and wide in notes of red ripe fruit. Riberas were muscle driven, deeper, perfumed and elegant. We all decided not to name a “winner’ but the one that got the notoriety of the night was a fantastic Marques del Riscal 1952 Reserva, which also showed how beautiful Riojas can age.

CELLAR

RARTADI Pagos Viejos Reserva 1995 Region: Rioja Varietal:Tempranillo Price: $95 Aromas: Licorice, currant, guava and walnuts Flavors: Black pepper, ripe plum, lactic Impression: Great character, silky, subtle Structure: Medium body, past its best already Drink with: Manchego Why I loved this wine? Earthy and delicate My Rating: 95 pts.

Vega Sicilia “Valbuena 5” 2000 Region: Ribera del Duero Varietal: Tempranillo Price: $127 Aromas: Lots of red fruit, blueberries and blackberries Flavors: Plum, red fruit marmalade, green peppercorn Impression: Silky and elegant Structure: Big, full body Drink with: Filet Mignon with green peppercorn sauce and potatoes Why I loved this wine? It has the Wow! factor My Rating: 95 pts.

Marques del Riscal Reserva 1952

Goyo Garcia “Finca Valdeolmos” 2010

Region: Rioja Varietal: Tempranillo Price: N/A Aromas: Licorice, currant, guava and walnuts Flavors: Black pepper, ripe plum, lactic Impression: Great character, silky, subtle Structure: Medium body, past its best already Drink with: Manchego Why I loved this wine? Earthy and delicate My Rating: 94 pts.

Region: Ribera del Duero Varietal: Tempranillo Price: $76 Aromas: Red Currant, gooseberry Flavors: Woody, cranberry sauce, spicy Impression: Balanced and complex Structure: Great solid body Drink with: Pork loin with cranberry sauce Why I loved this wine? Explosion of fruit My Rating: 90 pts.

56 • May / June 2017