America Bracho, MPH, CDELatino Health Access - President and CEO
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
