The NHMA Update
Welcome to the May 2021 edition of the NHMA Update! We're back with details on all that our organization and members have supported over the past month.
Are you still an active NHMA member?
Join NHMA today!
As a member of NHMA, you become part of a community of Hispanic physicians, residents, medical students, healthcare professionals, and others dedicated to improving health care for Hispanics, eliminating healthcare disparities, and advancing your careers as leaders for our community—whether in private practice, academia, administration or public service.
Get Involved
Make the most of this unique opportunity to network and learn from fellow students, residents, physicians, and others that can share meaningful insights and advice. If you'd like to hear more information on how to get involved, email membership2@nhmamd.org or visit nhmamd.org.
Explore Professional Opportunities
NHMA connects our members to a number of career and job advancement opportunities. Visit the NHMA Career Center to learn more!
NHMA President's Legislative Update
Colleagues,

NHMA supported the H.R. 1835/S. 783 the COVID Community Care Act. While the budget reconciliation process did not allow for precision and detail regarding support for medically underserved communities, Congressional leaders urged Secretary of HHS to deliver on President Biden’s commitment to equity and realize the intent of the COVID Community Care Act by ensuring a targeted approach for the $63,190,000,000 for COVID response in ARP to serve medically underserved communities. In particular, they requested funding be offered in direct grants to community-based and faith-based organizations to conduct testing, contact tracing, vaccinations, and public outreach in medically underserved communities, as outlined in the COVID Community Care Act. In addition, they encouraged funds allocated through HRSA to target health centers that provide care to medically underserved communities.
 
NHMA supported Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) and Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in reintroducing the Health Equity and Access Under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Families Act simultaneously in the House and the Senate for the first time ever.
The HEAL for Immigrant Families Act would help immigrants get the health care they need by:
  • Removing the five-year waiting period and outdated list of “qualified” immigrants for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) so that all federally authorized immigrants who are otherwise eligible can enroll.
  •  Removing the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from getting insurance coverage, tax credits from the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Exchanges.
  • Making sure Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients have access to public and affordable health coverage
 
On April 14th, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed regulations to end the Title X gag rule. Since 2019, former President Trump’s gag rule has undermined the Title X program and denied people across the country access to affordable reproductive health care, such as birth control and life-saving cancer screenings.
...
Announcements
Unidos Contra COVID x NHMA’s Vaccinate4All

Unidos Contra COVID is a coalition of Latino doctors and nurses—led by NHMA member José R. Torradas, MD, FACEP—who are working together to bring COVID-19 vaccines to heavily-concentrated Latinx communities in Philadelphia. Using a community-based approach, they're building trust in the safety of the vaccines with a strong level of accessibility and cultural awareness needed to reach our communities.

On May 2nd, 2021, NHMA was proud to support Unidos Contra COVID's first mobile vaccination site at a local Qwikscript Pharmacy in Philadelphia. Thanks to a small, but mighty, group of volunteers 70 people were vaccinated during this event! 
Through our Vaccinate4All campaign, we have been able to collaborate with NHMA members like Dr. Torradas and other local leaders across the country. We will continue to highlight NHMA Chapters and support trusted messengers with their vaccination efforts.

NHMA, HHPLN, CMS, and Dr. Cameron Webb Meet to Discuss Vaccinate4All Campaign and COVID-19 Health Equity

On Wednesday, May 5th, 2021, the Hispanic Health Professional Leadership Network (HHPLN), NHMA's Council of Medical Societies (CMS), and Dr. Cameron Webb, Senior Policy Advisor for Equity on the White House COVID-19 Response Team, met to discuss our continued efforts to promote vaccine accessibility, confidence, and uptake.
Through our Vaccinate4All Campaign, and in coordination with our partners, NHMA remains committed to supporting the most effective way to reach, protect, and most importantly, learn from the communities we serve in a manner that best meets their needs.

In The News
Programs & Campaigns
Your continued support and involvement is what make NHMA so impactful. Check out the below highlight.
Vaccinate4All Campaign
Supported by the CDC, Johnson & Johnson, and Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the Vaccinate4All campaign was created to arm health professionals and advocates with educational resources about the COVID-19 vaccines, in order to increase vaccination participation and accessibility among the Latino community. If you'd like to help us educate and increase update, contact our team at communications@nhmamd.org.
The National Hispanic Health Foundation’s (NHHF) “Stop Vaping Campaign,” supported by Aetna, was created to increase awareness and education about the dangers of e-cigarettes and reduce use among Hispanic middle and high school students. If you’d like to get involved with amplifying this message, drop us a line at communications@nhmamd.org.  
The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship — Now Open!

Applications are due by September 24, 2021, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Founded in 2004 by the National Hispanic Health Foundation, this scholarship opportunity is designed to support health professionals with an outstanding academic records, proven leadership, and a strong commitment to serving Hispanics. Please share within your networks.

NHMA Trailblazers
What is an NHMA Trailblazer?
NHMA Trailblazers are dedicated members who work relentlessly to reduce health disparities and improve the quality of life for Hispanic communities.
Check out what our May Trailblazers have been up to!
Oxiris Barbot, MD
Senior Fellow for Public Health and Social Justice The JPB Foundation Adjunct Assistant Professor Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Former Health Commissioner of NYC DOHMH
NHMA recognizes Dr. Barbot for her comprehensive presentation during Session 7 of NHMA's COVID-19 Virtual Briefing Series on April 28th, 2021. Thank you for sharing insights into hospitalization and death rates by race/ethnicity.
Bert E Johansson MD, PhD FAAP
Pediatric Critical Care Doctor
Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe
Treasurer, NHMA Board of Directors
NHMA would like to spotlight Dr. Johansson for speaking at Engaging Diversity in Clinical Care on April 14th, a virtual panel hosted by Texas AHEC East (Waco Region) on the topic of clinical practice, health equity, and the All-Of-Us Research Program.

We appreciate you sharing helpful advice from your vast experience working with diverse populations.
Want to be featured as a May Trailblazer?
Each month we'll highlight 1-3 trailblazing members. Email communications@nhmamd.org by June 4th to be considered!

Mark Your Calendars
Featured Content
Focusing on Food Hardship During Older Americans Month 

By: Alexandra Ashbrook
Director, Special Projects & Initiatives, Food Research & Action Center 

This year’s Older Americans Month focuses on Communities of Strength. One critical need is to focus on the unprecedented rates of food hardship among older adults, which have been fueled by the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
 
Some 2 million older adults age 65 plus have reported their household sometimes or often didn’t have enough to eat in the last seven days (Household Pulse Survey data collected March 17-29, 2021). Food insecurity has serious consequences for the health and well-being of older adults and can lead to malnutrition. The attendant harms of food insecurity as well as diet-related chronic disease have propelled the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to adopt a range of actions to strengthen and improve the reach of the federal nutrition programs during COVID-19.
...
Your support matters!
Your support helps to sustain and secure the future of NHMA and NHHF.
As we look toward the future, your generous annual contributions of $5,000, $10,000 or more will help move this great organization toward building the NHHF/NHMA Endowment. 
You shop, Amazon donates! Sign-up for the AmazonSmile Program and 0.5% of your Amazon purchase will be donated to support the NHHF & NHMA.