America Bracho, M.P.H., C.D.E., a recognized expert in Latino health issues and public health, joined the Casey Family Programs board of trustees in January 2008. She is the executive director and founder of Latino Health Access, a community-based center working to provide health services and create healthy communities. Located in Santa Ana, Calif., the center was started to assist and engage low-income members of the local Latino community, especially those with multiple needs.
Dr. Bracho is a native of Venezuela, where she practiced medicine for several years before coming to the United States to receive training in public health from the University of Michigan. After receiving her master’s degree, Dr. Bracho created HIV/AIDS projects for Latino Family Services in Detroit. She served as director for the next four years.
Dr. Bracho serves on the Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Health Disparities, is an advisory committee member for the Marguerite Casey Foundation, sits on the task force for health disparities for the Kellogg Foundation and has been a consultant for the Pan-American Health Organization. Previously, she hosted a daily Spanish-language radio talk show and was a columnist for a local newspaper. Dr. Bracho remains committed to using the media as a valuable resource for information related to health issues.
As a dedicated and passionate doctor, Dr. Bracho has mobilized her intellect, education and vitality around children’s health and welfare issues. Dr. Bracho is a firm believer in the World Health Organization definition of health:
Health is not only the absence of infirmity and disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being.
Motivated by this belief, she advocates and works in comprehensive models that can reduce health disparities by addressing root causes of disease and despair. Dr. Bracho has received many awards for her contributions to the Latino community.