© 2006 Latino Health Access
1701 N. Main Street, Suite 200
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714-542-7792 Phone
714-542-4853 Fax
©2006 Latino Health Access
America Bracho, MPH, CDE >
Caleb Arias >
Patricia Cantero, Ph.D. >
Leah Fraser Ph.D. [bio coming]
Ginger Hahn, MPH >
Cristina Jose Kampfner, Ph.D. [bio coming]
Iliana Villagomez >
Dr. America Bracho is the Executive Director of Latino Health Access, a center for health promotion and disease prevention located in Santa Ana, California. This Center was created under her leadership to assist with the multiple health needs of Latinos in Orange County. Latino Health Access facilitates mechanisms of empowerment for the Latino community and uses participatory approaches to community health education. The programs train community health workers as leaders of wellness and change. Dr. Bracho worked as a physician in her native Venezuela for several years, after which she came to the U.S. to obtain a Master’s Degree in Public Health at the University of Michigan. Her Public Health speciality is Health Education and Health Behavior.
After completing her Master’s program Dr. Bracho created and directed the AIDS projects for Latino family Services in Detroit, Michigan for four years. The program integrated HIV education programs that addressed needs confronted by the community including the need for jobs, parenting classes, women health services, drug treatment and many others. She has been a trainer, presenter and consultant for numerous government and private agencies around the nation including: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The National Council of La Raza, the University of Michigan, the University of California in Los Angeles, University of Maryland, Wayne State University, University of California in Riverside, John Hopkins University, University of California in San Diego, The US – Mexico Border Association, the Texas Department of Health, the Joslin Diabetes Center, The National Conference of Lay Advisors, The National Conference of Community Outreach Workers, among others.
Dr. Bracho serves as a consultant for the Pan- American Health Organization and has been a valuable team member as a faculty member for several international courses in Latin-America. In the past, Dr. Bracho has been involved with the Spanish-speaking media as hostess of a daily radio talk show and TV on health related topics. She has also been a columnist of a local newspaper. She remains involved with the media as a source of information related to health awareness.
She is recognized at the local, regional and national levels as an expert in the area of Latino health issues, health education, minority women, cultural competency, community organizing, diabetes education and HIV. She has received several awards for her contributions to the Latino community.
Schools Attended
Luis Razetti Medical School, Universidad Central de Venezuela
School of Public Health. University of Michigan
Degrees
Medical Doctor (Venezuela)
Master’s degree in Public Health
Specialty in Health Education and Health Behavior
Certified Diabetes Educator
Caleb R. Arias was born and raised in Central California to migrant farm-working parents. Attended undergraduate and graduate studies at UC Davis and UCSD School of Medicine respectively.
Through the years he has enjoyed and derived immense satisfaction and meaning from working and helping those less fortunate than himself. His cultural background, education, employment experience in the private and public sector and public volunteerism have provided him with ample opportunities to effectively work with individuals in under-served areas and serve as an avid advocate to bring about the systems change necessary to the provision of quality social and health care services to individuals and families attempting to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
Patricia J. Cantero earned a Ph.D. in Health Behavior Research from the USC Keck School of Medicine under the Institute of Prevention Research.
She has over seven years of experience conducting health behavioral research among Latinos in the Los Angeles and San Diego counties, specifically Latino men and women diagnosed with diabetes. Currently, she is responsible for evaluating thirteen health education and service programs, building employee capacity, overseeing data collection and entry, and analyzing process and impact data.
Ginger Hahn is the Director of Grants and Contracts for Latino Health Access. She combines 15 years of experience in program administration with a master’s degree in public health to help Latino Health Access obtain the grant funds it needs to fulfill its mission.
During the course of her career, she has managed programs in two county health departments, worked for the University of Southern California’s Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, taught program planning and evaluation at the college and community college levels, served as the Director of Health Education and Cultural and Linguistics Services for an HMO, and written grant proposals as a freelance writer for hospitals and other non-profit organizations.
Ginger is passionate about social justice, and has focused her life’s work on reducing health disparities in under-served communities. Her work is published in peer-reviewed journals such as Health Education Research, and in poetry journals, such as Rattle: Poetry for the 21st Century.
Ginger has been with Latino Health Access for seven years because LHA is “visionary and cutting edge.”
Iliana Villagomez is the Accounting Manager for Latino Health Access. She has over 10 years of experience in accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and financial analysis.
She obtained her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to Latino Health Access, Iliana worked in the restaurant business at Claim Jumper Restaurants and Islands Restaurants. At Claim Jumper she was a Payroll Accountant where she was responsible for overseeing five restaurants and also assisting the Payroll Manager. At Islands Restaurants, she was responsible for six restaurants' payroll, accounts payable and financial analysis. She also worked for Talbert Medical Group and FHP as a staff accountant where she was responsible for the inventory accounts.
Iliana enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, movies, and reading.