We strive to provide vulnerable populations access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary healthcare services. We aim to organize and sustain a powerful consumer voice to ensure that all individuals and communities can influence healthcare decisions.

Our Mission

The Latino HealthCare Forum's vision is a nation free of disparities in health and healthcare.

Our goals include: 1) Supporting a positive transformation of the healthcare system and building a high-value healthcare system that requires insuring the uninsured, making coverage more secure for those who have it and improving the quality of care for all. 2) Helping to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure and workforce by addressing the critical shortage of medical personnel including community health workers. 3) Advancing the health, safety and well-being for vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

Board of Directors

ana pomar, Board Chair

Ana is the Board Secretary for the Latino Healthcare Forum, she has taught students ages 4-60 in social programs, public schools, and private colleges in TX, AR, WV. She has successfully managed professional development programs in the Austin region, supervised novice teachers and teacher trainers. Additionally, edited publications for elementary school students, has served as the Education Coordinator/Teacher for Family in Sanctuary at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. She has worked as Educational Issues Director, Texas AFT she coordinated Professional Development for Educators in the state of Texas; worked at the Education Center Director Alliance-AFT Dallas, TX, Teacher Certification Scorer National Evaluation Systems, Austin Pflugerville Police Victim Services Counselor, Assist Local Police Officers with cases of domestic abuse, family violence, and sexual crimes. Also, as a Spanish Instructor and Interpreter translated for doctors and nurses at the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, Bilingual Arts and Bilingual Specialist, ESC Region XIII, Staff Representative, Education Austin, Reading Instructor for the Alternative Certification Program, Region 13 and Huston-Tillotson College, Bethany College in Bethany West Virginia as a Spanish Instructor and lately served as the Legislative staff for State Representative, Ana Maria Ramos for 2019 Legislative session. She is passionate about opportunities to serve her profession, community, and country and currently serves in various leadership roles. She is happy to serve in this position and as a Board member of Casa Marianella.

Isaac Pozos, Board cochair

Isaac received his degree in Business Administration and Management at Texas University, he is an experienced Bilingual Healthcare professional with a demonstrated history of working in the medical clinical industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Physician Relations, Public Speaking, and U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). He is a demonstrated patient-centered medical home (PCMH) content expert; and successfully led El Buen Samaritano Health Center operations over to Lone Star Circle of Care Federally Qualified Health Center through the PCMH (NCQA) recognition process.

He currently serves as a Community Development Specialist's at Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC), an organization that represents Texas safety-net health care centers, as the federally designated primary care association for Texas. The community health centers provide quality care to the most vulnerable patient populations. As part of the Strategic Initiatives Department, Isaac’s role is to respond to Community Health Centers' request for technical assistance as they face rapid change in a highly regulated and complex industry.

He worked at El Buen Samaritano Health Care Center and later at the same location at The Lone Star Circle of Care as a Healthcare Manager of operations Responsible for the delivery of healthcare to our patients by leading practice transformation efforts in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization. At Community Care as a Senior Practice Administrator Responsible for launching and managing healthcare operations at the Southeast Health and Wellness Center in partnership with Central Health, University of Texas, Dell Medical School and City of Austin, WIC program. Additionally, Isaac has managed several health centers in Travis County such as the William Cannon Urgent Care, Oak Hill Health Center, East Austin Health Center a City of Austin primary care clinic. As a city employee he participated in community engagement activities, worked with other city departments, such as Information Technology, Facility Services, and Health and Human Services to coordinate facilities and patient care.

Carlos Guzman, Board Secretary

Carlos is originally from Carolina, Puerto Rico Carlos came to Austin in 1979. He founded and operated a toy store from 1981 to 1989 and ended his business to join his wife’s Dessert business from 1989 to 2005. Carlos worked on a technology firm from 2005 to 2015 and later retired from Goodwill in 2020, lives in Austin and dedicates his time to volunteering in different causes. Carlos focusses on getting to know, empathize with all kinds of human beings. After more than 40 years in this country, he wants to focus on listening to people and making them proud to keep their language and advocates for Spanish Speakers in the various settings where he volunteers.

Board of Advisors

ALFRED MCALISTER, PHD

McAlister is a professor of behavioral sciences at the UT School of Public Health, Austin campus, and an adjunct professor for the Plan II Honors & College of Communication at UT Austin. He is contributing to LHCF's initiative to address Latino health disparity elimination in the Dove Springs neighborhood. Professor McAlister's distinguished academic career includes positions at Harvard School of Public Health as an assistant professor and the UT Health Science Center at Houston as an associate professor in both the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health. Professor McAlister has been awarded twenty-three grants and contracts with total awards exceeding $20 mil. for projects to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer, HIV infection, diabetes and violence. He has authored scientific articles and reports for a number of publications including the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and American Journal of Public Health.

AMELIE G. RAMIREZ, DR.PH.

Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez is an internationally recognized cancer and chronic disease health disparities researcher and spokesperson. At the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio she is a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and the founding director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research, which studies health disparities among minorities. For 30 years Dr. Ramirez has directed research programs focused on human and organizational communication to reduce health disparities affecting Latinos.

She directs two national research networks, Redes En Acción, which focuses on Latino cancer, and Salud America!, which focuses on Latino child obesity. She also is a member of the following: the Scientific Advisory Board, Susan G. Komen For the Cure; Scientific Advisory Board, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade; and Board of Directors, Lance Armstrong Foundation. In San Antonio she is a member of the Mayor’s Fitness Council and the Tobacco Prevention & Control Coalition.

Latino HealthCare Forum Staff

Jill C. Ramirez, Executive Director

Originally from El Paso Texas, Jill arrived in Austin after receiving her BA at UTEP and graduated with a Master of Education and Master in communication Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin. Jill is currently the CEO and Co-founder of the Latino Healthcare Forum, Author, and Instructor of PromoSalud, which is a State of Texas Certification Program for Community Health Workers /Promotores de Salud. At the Forum she has coordinated Manantial De Salud Dove Springs: A project focused on health promotions, funded by the City of Austin and the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention; the Affordable Care Act Community Outreach Project and the Southeast Health and Wellness Center Community Assessment.

Her experiece includes, Substitute teacher in Early Childhood Special Education, a Special Education Project Coordinator and a Bilingual Speech Pathologist for Bilingual Autism and Bilingual Special Education, Bilingual Educational Consultant for the Austin Independent School District; providing training and workshops to parents of English-Language Learners in the areas of self-empowerment, biliteracy skills, bilingualism, biculturalism; during this term she author: “PROMESAS” a curriculum for Spanish-speaking parents. At CHILD, INC. she served as a Bilingual Speech/Language Pathologist. Additionally, Jill was a Guest Lecturer at UT Austin in a program focused on Assessment and Communication Issues in Multicultural Special Education with Emphasis in Autism, Bilingual Education, Parent Involvement and Cultural and Linguistic Competency.

Her awards and recognitions include “Orgullo Latino” by Univision, the “Dennis R. Garza Lifetime Achievement” Award by LULAC District 7, nominated for “The Power of One Award” by the University of Texas at Austin Principalship Program, received a “Certificate of Recognition” by the State of Texas House of Representatives, for working with Spanish-speaking children with autism, and was inducted in the “Women's Hall of Fame” by the City of Austin.

Ma. Isabel Lopez, Chief Executive Officer

Ma. Isabel Lopez arrived in Austin from Mexico as a “DREAMER” at age 17, graduated from Johnston International Highschool and attended ACC. She is a Certified Community Health Worker Instructor for PromoSalud a State of Texas Certification Program for Community Health Workers /Promotores de Salud and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the Latino HealthCare Forum.

She has served as a Promotora for the Manantial de Salud program, as a Coordinator and Federal Navigator at Affordable Care Act Community Outreach Project, the Tomeselo a Pecho Austin (TAPA) Campaign, the Rundberg Health Innovation Program, as well as assisting in the administrative community outreach patient navigation activities conducted by the Community Health Worker team. Additionally, Isabel worked at Lone Star Circle of Care as a Community Health Worker "Promotora" as part of the health care team, working with patients with chronic disease conditions, promoting healthy behaviors and teaching them self-management techniques to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Her work experience includes 13 years at Avance Austin as a Parent Educator/Home visitor, facilitating the Parenting Classes using the AVANCE curriculum in English and Spanish to groups of mothers in the Eastern Crescent of Austin.

She also volunteered at El Buen Samaritano as a Community Health Worker delivering the “Comenzando Bien” curriculum from the March of Dimes to expecting mothers in the Latino community in Austin. Her civic engagement includes memberships to various civic organizations such as Raza Round Table, Hispanic Quality of Life Commission and Joint inclusion Committee for the city of Austin, English Language Learners Advisory Board, Community Bond Oversight Committee and HUB Subcommittee member at AISD, LULAC District VII Dove Springs Chapter as Vice President and Youth Deputy Director, the South East Contact Team, the W.M Cannon Community Care Advisory Board, the Perez Elementary Citizens Advisory Committee, the Mendez middle school and Perez elementary PTA as well as other non-profit boards. Isabel was recognized by her peers as Women of the year by both LULAC District VII and Amigha Hispana in 2019.

Nancy Carrasco, Community Health Worker

Nancy Carrasco is new to LHCF in her role as a Community Health Worker. She has a background in customer service with a strong focus on supporting the community. She has always enjoyed helping customers with questions, concerns and translating for Spanish speakers. She joined the Latino HealthCare Forum and is a part time student at ACC to complete her associate degree for business administration. Nancy is a native of East Austin and has a son that plans to raise in her neighborhood.

Josefina Lopez, Comunity Health Worker

Josefina has worked as a community health worker for over three decades, she used to organize and advocate for health and education back in her town in the rural mountains of Guanajuato Mexico. She was part of the community board for the local clinic and head health education campaigns and outreach efforts as a volunteer supporting the health team assign to her town. In Austin she became a Certified Community Health Worker at the LHCF PromoSalud training institute, ever since she got certified she has worked at the Latino HealthCare Forum as a CHW Outreach specialist supporting her peers and community through the many initiatives the LHCF has implemented since inception.

Edna Iruegas, Comunity Health Worker

Business Owner. Worked as a substance abuse program director for the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas. Worked as the County Court Coordinator under the supervision of County Judge Rocky Escobedo. Worked as a County Attorney Investigator under the supervision of County Attorney Ernesto Mireles, all in hometown, Eagle Pass, Texas. In Austin Texas, worked as a Youth Program Director out of River City Youth Foundation., grassroots nonprofit based in the Dove Springs area. She has also worked as a Tax Professional for the past 15 years at H&R Block as a Senior Tax Analyst and Store manager. Currently graduated from Latino Health forums as a Promotora de Salud and is working with the 78744-zip code population at the Juntos 44 Program under Manantial de Salud. Edna is also working in a new venture in tax preparation at Edna Iruegas Bookkeeping and Tax Services.

She has served in different boards such as Unidos of Austin, Any Baby Can in teen pregnancy prevention, Suicide Coalition, Dyslexia Association, Triad Counties substance abuse prevention and intervention programs, Ambers Hope, AMEP and AISD PTA.

Jaqueline Hernandez, Contact tracer

Jacqueline Hernandez is a Registered Dental Assistant, early in life she became passionate about dentistry. As a Dental Assistant she loves helping patients and her passion is to help to provide patients the experience of a great and healthy smile. Her goals involve learning as much as she can and increase professional knowledge. She enjoys helping, interacting, and getting to know people and her current position as a Contact Tracer at the LHCF allows her to do it. She loves to travel, read, hangout with family, watching movies and spending time outdoors.

Kenda Rios, Program manager

A native of Austin and first generation daughter of immigrants Kenda is a senior at St. Edward's University working towards a Bachelor's in Global Studies with a concentration in Latin American and International Conflict and a minor in Chicanx and Latinx Studies. Her hope is to be able to continue to work in the community to make it a better place for all. She has previously worked at the Latino HealthCare forum as an Outreach Specialist for the Secure Your Health Campaign and currently serves as a Coordinator for the LHCF - CommunityCare Contract Tracing initiative.

Rubid Serrano, contact tracer

Rubid Serrano is a contact tracer at Latino HealthCare Forum. She is helping slow the spread of COVID-19 in Central Texas by contacting those who have tested positive for the virus and identifying the people they have come in close contact with. Rubid has many years of healthcare experience working with the Eastern Crescent community of Travis County. She has previously worked as a patient registration clerk and a community outreach representative with a non-profit organization. She enjoys cooking, baking, and taking trips with her loving children.

Wendolyn Lopez, Community Health Worker

Wendolyn Lopez is a Community Health Worker, currently assisting Latino HealthCare Forum with COVID-19 outreach efforts. She originally joined LHCF in 2012 as a volunteer for Manantial de Salud, a grassroots health network developed to promote healthier lifestyles for Latinos. Wendolyn has several years of experience in Community outreach and Marketing. Currently, she also holds a role as a Physician Marketing Liaison at a Medical Management Network for older adults. She enjoys giving back to the community and often volunteers at Hays County Food Bank. During summer months, you can find her tubing down the San Marcos River with friends.

Patricia Diaz Marin, Community Health Worker

Originally from Mexico, Martha had her beginning as a Promotora was with the PromoSalud program by LHCF more than 7 year ago. Ever since she has worked on and off in many of the different initiatives of the organization, she has a passion for research-based programs and is highly proficient as an outreach worker. A Community Health Worker and mother of three beautiful children, she enjoys outdoor bike rides or gym work out. In addition to her position at LHCF she currently works as a research assistant at the UT School of Public Health in Austin.

Her passion are her kids and helping the community in accessing an affordable healthy diet, medical access, and physical activity.

Janie Reyes, Contact tracer

Janie Reyes, a native of Laredo, Texas and raised in Nuevo Laredo Tamaulipas Mexico. At 19 she left Nuevo Laredo to go to in Texas. She has 3 beautiful daughters, Yulissa (22), Jessenia (18) and Alexa (11). She previously lived in Austin for 23 years and had to move to Laredo to be closer to family. She has worked in various non-profits and her latest job was at the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo Texas, she worked as an office assistant and ran a council (El Centro del Adult Mayor). In her role she assisted older adults with many of their daily activities and supported Central Americans that were granted political asylum. She is very happy to start this new phase with Latino HealthCare Forum as a Contact Tracer and to be back in Austin.

Josue Lopez, Contact tracer

Josue is a contact tracer, supporting the Latino HealthCare forum efforts to support the local efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve in Travis county. Josue is a recent graduate of Akins High School and a resident of Dove Springs, he is currently a full-time student at ACC and will continue his degree at the University of Texas in Austin.

Lucila Hernandez, Community Health Worker

Lucila Hernandez has worked in my community as a Community Health Worker for 14 years. She is also a Certified Community Health Worker Instructor by the State of Texas, she loves helping the community to find resources and offer support with basic needs. In the past she has supported the Latino HealthCare Forum’s efforts as an Outreach Specialist, a CHW Instructor, ACA Certified Counselor and Navigator. She has served the community in many local nonprofits and is currently has the position of outreach worker, supporting small businesses with COVID-19 materials and education.

Rodolfo Briseno, contact tracer

Rodolfo has 46 years as a Drug Abuse Counselor. He has worked with clients residing in East Austin, Montopolis, South and North Austin. The lists of clients have included Users, Drug Dealers, various Travis county area clinics, Austin Travis County MHMR, Youth Advocacy, DCCI, Travis County Juvenile Probation Department, Lifeworks and others in a consulting and counselor role. He worked at Life Works as a case manager for runaway & homeless adolescents, Travis County Counseling & Education Services (TCCES) teaching classes for Driving While Intoxicated in Spanish & English also as a Substance Abuse, Case Manager, Presenter, Organizer in Communities and have sat on a couple of Boards.

For over 10 years worked at the formerly known Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse as a Program Monitor, supervising state funded programs to ensure compliance with State Mandates, State and Federal funding and programming, Program Coordinator for Cultural & Special Populations that were not having access to Substance Abuse Services through traditional programming. He develops programs for Farmworkers (from Brownsville to El Paso in the fields) and groups in New Mexico. Also became TCADA’s representative/Liaison in collaboration with the Federal Agency, SAMHSA to address the needs in Texas for Native Americans (Kickapoo, Tigua & others), Gangs, Farmworkers & Rural populations. As a student he was appointed Teacher Intern for his class at Texas Wesleyan College, later became a teacher at Fort Worth ISD Elementary School and two years in a Jr. High in charge of developing a program to address Substance Abuse. He also served as a Parent Training Specialist for the Austin ISD from 1987-1989.

Nicolle Alvarez Iruegas, Community Health Worker

Nicolle was born and raised in Austin, during her teen years volunteered in a neighborhood youth organization at River City Youth Foundation a nonprofit based in the 78744 area. Her duties were to assist in the after school tutoring programs, summer camps, summer programs, and monitor camping and university trips.

Once married and had her first child, she participated at a pilot program offered in AISD schools called E-promotora. Her participation in the program triggered her interest and became more involved in the community and child education. Nicolle joined child Inc., Any Baby Can and Langford Elementary Head Start programs and after the birth of her second child she decided to continue her education and became certified a CNA. Also, during her children's entire school years up to today she has been deeply involved in many school activities and programs; mainly as part of PTA and parent volunteer at her children’s school.

She was certified by Latino Health Forum PromoSalud a State of Texas Certification Program for Community Health Workers /Promotores de Salud and woks at the Juntos 44 initiative, offering a curriculum Seamos Honestos; a family communication program implemented in the Dove Springs neighborhood to maintain and foster comunication between teens and parents to keep youth healthy.

Hugo Diaz, Outreach and Enrollment specialist

Hugo Diaz is a bilingual entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the IT business and 8 years working with non-profit organizations. He earned his bachelor degree in International Commerce from Monterrey Tech (ITESM) in 1994. He is passionate about helping others and since 2010 he has worked with Hispanic families teaching, training and empowering them so they can learn how to make better use of technology in their daily lives. He has also helped many families get access to health services and providers and understand the healthcare system in the US.

Hugo, currently works for the Latino HealthCare Forum as an enrollment and outreach specialist, he has been recognized as a Federal Navigator for the insurance Marketplace and helped more than 500 families get enrolled in the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and CHIP programs.