LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) hosts its fourth annual Los Angeles Awards Gala where 10 students enrolled in health professional schools will be given scholarships to help finish school and work in California and Western U.S.

The event will be November 20, 2014, at JW Marriott Hotel LA LIVE, in Los Angeles, CA, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Also being honored are leaders for their transformation of their organizations so that more Latinos will have access to healthcare:

Roger Steinart, MD, Acting Dean, University of California Irvine School of Medicine – for his vision to support the PRIME Program that educates a core group of medical students on the culture of Mexico and application to healthcare delivery in the US to Latino patients.

Henri Ford, MD,  Vice Dean, Keck School of Medicine of USC – for his career to inspire students and faculty to be the best doctors they can be and to develop new strategies working with alumni to support Latino students at the medical school.

Beth Zachary, CEO, White Memorial Medical Center – for her career in hospital leadership for the Adventist Health System and in the East Los Angeles area to provide guidance at the highest levels to develop culturally competent programs for Latinos.

Pedro Nosnik, MD, from Plano, Texas – for being an outstanding neurologist in private practice in Texas and a role-model for our scholars

Bel Hernandez-Castillo, President, Latin Heat – for her outstanding leadership in TV and entertainment reaching millions of Latinas and informing them about Covered California

Robert Rojas, CPA, MA, Owner, Rojas & Associates, CPAs – for his vision to develop expertise in financial services that can advance the careers of our Latino health professionals.

“The NHHF Scholarship Gala honors these leaders to inspire the student scholars to deliver quality healthcare, given the new 10 million insured Latinos we have with the Affordable Care Act this year,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO of NHHF and NHMA. “And by partnering with visionary sponsors, we are able to increase the number of trusted healthcare providers for Latino families.”

The United Health Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor and dedicated $160,000 to NHHF’s Health Professional Student Scholarship Program, along with support from AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, New York Life Insurance, and American Beverage Association, nationally. David Geffen at UCLA School of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine at USC, UC Irvine School of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, California HealthCare Foundation, California Wellness Foundation, Alta Med Health Services, Rojas and Associates, CPAs, Wells Fargo Bank, Amgen, LA Children’s Hospital, PAN#1 Family Partnership are the key sponsors of the Los Angeles Scholarship Program.

This year’s NHHF Health Professional Student Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students academically, who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to working in the Hispanic community and selected by the Latino Caucus of the American Public Health Association, Hispanic Dental Association, Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, American Podiatry Association, Physician Assistants for Latino Health, American Association of Pharmacy Schools and the National Hispanic Medical Association. Since 2005, NHHF has awarded $511,000 to 174 students across the nation.

The 2014 scholarship award winners are:

Paul Gonzalez, UT Southwestern Physician Assistant Program
Mariana Sáenz, UC Berkeley Policy School
Eduardo Hernandez, Western University of Health Sciences Podiatry School
Raquel Rodriguez, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA/UCLA Policy School
Jennifer Castellanos, Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
Maritza Herrera, San Diego State University Public Health School
Angel Moran, UC Davis School of Medicine
Evelyn Escobedo Pol, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Maria de Fatima Reyes, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Elberth Pineda, Charles R. Drew University/David Geffen Medical School at UCLA PRIME

NHHF is the 501(c)(3) organization started by the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), that represents 50,000 Hispanic physicians across the U.S. The mission of NHHF is to improve the health of Hispanics through research and educational activities.