Melissa Martinez

October 16, 2024

It’s not easy putting roots down in a family that has moved 17 times in 25 years. But Puerto Rican native Melissa Martinez is putting roots down in health-related research and has burgeoning experience in epidemiology and biostatistics, and wants to investigate ways to increase the community’s healthy habits so they avoid colon-related health problems. […]


Mariana Ramirez

October 16, 2024

Mariana Ramirez’ has a strong passion for helping improve the lives of Latino immigrants and youth. Ramirez, who is originally from Mexico and fluent in English and Spanish, has worked to raise awareness of breast cancer among Latinos in Kansas City, Missouri. She also serves in a leadership position with the “Latinos of Tomorrow” youth […]


Margarita Chavez

October 16, 2024

With a mother and father who are both martial artists who actually first met at a tournament, it isn’t surprising that Margarita Chavez is an accomplished martial artist herself and has trained more than 400 adults and children at her family’s martial arts studio in Albuquerque, N.M. But earning a 6th-degree black belt in karate […]


Lizette Álvarez

October 16, 2024

Lizette Álvarez was born in the United States but raised in Mexico. This experience helped Álvarez develop a sense of love, respect and commitment to her culture and community—so much so that, when she moved back to the United States, she sought a career in global and cultural issues. She went on to earn a […]


Lani Alcazar

October 16, 2024

Lani Alcaraz watched her father overcome many hardships and poverty in Mexico to become a doctor. Encouraged by his success, Alcaraz developed her own sense of perseverance and ambition and earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology (with a minor in chemistry) and her certificate in public health from The University of Texas Health Science Center […]


Johana Bravo

October 16, 2024

Growing up in Peru, Johana Bravo remembers dreams of studying abroad in hopes of a better life. In pursuit of her dreams, Bravo came to the United States and earned a bachelor’s of science in microbiology from the University of Kansas and is currently working on her master’s in public health degree at the University […]


Janet Sanchez

October 16, 2024

With parents who instilled in her the values of hard work, Janet Sanchez already works tirelessly to address health disparities along the U.S.-Mexico border. She is a community health educator who helps people access and follow-through with testing for colon cancer. Sanchez also, in addition to earning a master’s of public health degree with a […]


Isaura Otero

October 16, 2024

Isaura Otero, a first-generation Dominican American, is dedicated to improving the health of others. That’s why she has worked as a promotora (community health worker) to help connect underserved Latinos to survivor care services, and is acutely aware of the need for access to quality health care. Otero earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology […]


Christina Carmona

October 16, 2024

Born and raised in San Antonio, Christina Carmona has seen how Latinos here often don’t get access to the care they need, or they face cultural myths, financial barriers or a lack of knowledge of disease prevention. Carmona used this experience to fuel her drive to improve Latino health. Wanting to make a positive change […]


Carola Sanchez-Diaz

October 16, 2024

Growing up in Puerto Rico where music is magical and the people transform their stress into relief by dancing, Carola Sanchez-Diaz follows uses music and optimism to help her get through adversity.  Sanchez-Diaz brings her music-fueled optimism to her efforts to improve life for patients with cancer. Sanchez-Diaz—having earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in […]