Celebrating the Contributions of Hispanic Americans to the Medical Field
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. At Chase Brexton, we honor Hispanic Americans' contributions to the field of medicine, including the individuals highlighted below. For a wider view of all the ways Hispanic Americans have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society, visit www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov.
Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay (1833-1915)
A Cuban epidemiologist, Dr. Finlay was the first to trace the spread of yellow fever to mosquitos, enabling the completion of the Panama Canal.
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Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa (1857-1921)
The first Puerto Rican to receive a U.S. medical degree, Dr. Barbosa was later known as "the father of the Puerto Rican statehood movement."
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Dr. Severo Ochoa (1905-1993)
Dr. Ochoa discovered a key enzyme that eventually led to the unlocking of the human genetic code; in 1959 he became the first Hispanic American to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
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Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN (1920-2010)
A powerhouse advocate, nurse, therapist, and educator, Murillo-Rohde founded the National Association of Hispanic Nurses in 1975.
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Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias (1929-2001)
Rodriguez-Trias' work with HIV and AIDS patients in the 1980s established national care standards; later, she was the first Latina to head the American Public Health Association.
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Dr. Julio Frenk (1953- )
A fourth-generation physician and recognized authority on public health, Dr. Frenk is the first Hispanic person to serve as the president of the University of Miami.
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Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor (1976-)
The first Hispanic physician to travel to space, Aunon-Chancellor conducted research aboard the International Space Station and is now on the front lines of the COVID pandemic.
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