Nuestro equipo directivo
Nuestro increíble equipo de voluntarios habituales y de medio tiempo compuesto por estudiantes, médicos, maestros, líderes comunitarios y empresariales está comprometido a ayudar a combatir el COVID-19 en las escuelas y comunidades. Tomamos nuestras convicciones y las convertimos en acciones dirigidas por los estudiantes. Esta iniciativa sin fines de lucro dirigida por estudiantes está dirigida por Brandon Martel, presidente; Joseph Martel, MD; José L. Pérez, Latino Journal; Josh Xu Perez, estudiante; y Melanie Martel, estudiante de medicina.
¿Crees que encajarías bien? Se está formando un grupo asesor de líderes clave para construir un programa eficaz dirigido por estudiantes para combatir el COVID-19 y hacer de nuestras escuelas un entorno de aprendizaje seguro. ¡Póngase en contacto para obtener más información!
Brandon Martel
Brandon is a student at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California and the founder of the COVID-19 Student Protection Program. His motivation is a strong sense of responsibility towards his community. When he became aware of the potential danger of COVID-19 to students, he felt that student involvement and input was essential to the success of school prevention programs. This led to the direct development of the CSPP, a school COVID-19 exposure protection program made for students by students.
Josh Xu Perez
Josh Xu Perez is a fifth-grader who enjoys playing the violin and playing soccer. He is a GATE student and excels in math and reading. He cares for the environment by picking up trash and plastics. He is humorous and enjoys making people laugh. He enjoys golf and a bit of tennis and likes listening to music. He is interested in helping people avoid COVID-19 infection and educating other students to learn how to defend themselves, their families, and notably those most at risk such as grandparents. As manager of this project, Josh will bring a youthful fresh perspective to effectively achieve our goal.
Melanie Martel, MS-1
Melanie graduated from Stanford University and is presently attending the UC Davis School of Medicine. She is an award-winning author of young adult novels and bilingual children’s medical educational books. At the age of sixteen she won her first literary book award at the prestigious International Latino Book Awards. While at Stanford she developed a bilingual educational platform to empower the children of non-English speaking families, through knowledge about their disease. She has a deep commitment to her culture, community and healthcare.
Joseph Martel, MD
Dr. Martel is the Assistant Dean of the Department of Graduate Medical Education at the California Northstate College of Medicine, a former chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Sutter General and Mercy San Juan Hospitals in Sacramento as well as a former president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He has a long history of involvement in community medical issues. Dr. Martel has been appointed a member of the California Health Professions Education Foundation and has worked with California Senate and Assembly members on health issues. His role is to advise and assist the student run CSPP.
Jose L. Perez
Jose founded and is the publisher of the Latino Journal a national weekly digital publication. He is particularly knowledgable of the regulatory framework and leading community engagement of several policy issues. In 2008, Jose organized the Latino Physicians of California (LPOC) along with Dr. Jose Arevalo. The organization sought greater roles in dealing with health care policy issues, including increasing medical school admissions for Latinos. He served in that capacity as a volunteer and sometimes provides assistance to non-profit organizations. He believes CSPP can fill a critical missing piece in the strategy to tame COVID-19.
Liliya Golas, MD
Dr. Golas is a graduate of the Stanford School of Medicine, University of Colorado Ophthalmology Residency and University of Chicago Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship. She is a first-generation immigrant from Ukraine and has long been a strong advocate of minority students and their communities. Dr. Golas also believes student involvement is the key to any COVID-19 school prevention program and is committed to fully supporting CSPP, a student for student safety program.
Nancy Zarenda
Nancy Zarenda is an accomplished educator, Spanish language specialist, and community leader. Her experience as a language instructor and policy advisor spans public schools, colleges, police academies, government, and professional organizations.
UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities appointed Nancy as a charter member to its Research and Education Community Advisory Board. She is a nationally certified medical interpreter and a published writer.
Nancy was previously a governor appointee to the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing and was awarded Special Congressional Recognition as Outstanding Hispanic American Educator. She is honored and eager to serve this organization.
Elena V. Rios, MD, MSPH, FACP
President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association
President, National Hispanic Health Foundation
Dr. Rios serves as President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, (NHMA), representing 50,000 Hispanic physicians in the United States. The mission of the organization is to improve the health of Hispanics. Dr. Rios also serves as President of NHMA’s National Hispanic Health Foundation to direct educational and research activities.
Dr. Rios also serves on the Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield, Better Medicare Alliance and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda Boards of Directors, Centene Health Policy Advisory Committee, Cancer Treatment Centers for America Hispanic Advisory Council, Office of Research on Women’s Health Advisory Committee, NIH, US Department of Health and Human Services, and the VA National Academic Affiliations Council. Dr. Rios has lectured, published articles and has received several leadership awards, including awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Congressional Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Caucuses, American Public Health Association Latino Caucus, Association of Hispanic Health Executives, Minority Health Month, Inc., Hispanic Magazine, Verizon’s First Pollin Community Service Award, and Amerigroup. Dr. Rios was appointed to the Minority Alumni Hall of Fame of Stanford University in October, 2006, as a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine in 2007, the Institute of Medicine Global Forum for Health Professions Education in 2014, as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians in 2016, and as a member of the Society of Medical Administrators in 2017.
Prior to her current positions, Dr. Rios served as the Advisor for Regional and Minority Women’s Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health from November 1994 to October 1998. In 1998-2004, Dr. Rios served as Executive Director, Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools. In 1993, Dr. Rios was appointed to the National Health Care Reform Task Force as Coordinator of Outreach Groups for the White House. From 1992-94, Dr. Rios worked for the State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development as a policy researcher.
Dr. Rios has also served as President, Chicano/Latino Medical Association of California, Founder of the National Network of Latin American Medical Students, member of the California Department of Health Services Cultural Competency Task Force, the Stanford Alumni Association, Women’s Policy Inc., Commission to End Healthcare Disparities, Nurse Family Partnerships, Campaign Against Obesity, and Partnership for Prevention Boards of Directors, PacifiCare-UnitedHealthcare California Investment Committee, ASU Health Futures Council and the AMA’s Disparities Commission and Minority Affairs Consortium Steering Committees.
Dr. Rios earned her BA in Human Biology/Public Administration at Stanford University in 1977, MSPH at the UCLA School of Public Health in 1980, MD at the UCLA School of Medicine in 1987, and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose and the White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles in 1990, and her NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship at UCLA Division of General Internal Medicine in 1992.
Jose Villarica, MD
Jose D. Villarica, M.D., is a retired Thoracic/Vascular surgeon who spanned a 32-year busy independent private practice in the Sacramento area and northeastern vicinities. He is now involved as a volunteer in various community civic activities. As an active member of the world’s largest service organization, the International Lions Club, District 4-C5, he serves as Chair of Health Services giving talks on health matters touching on the pillars of health namely exercise, nutrition and quality sleep, and lately on COVID-19. He participated in MEDS Missions (Medical, Educational/Evangelical, Dental, Surgical) doing surgical procedures overseas with the MEDS teams.
Dr. Villarica retired from the United States military service as Chief of Surgery of the 921stMASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) and was deployed in Desert Shield/Storm campaign. He finished all his surgical specialty training starting in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, New York and Oregon. He had Otorhinolaryngology residency following completion of his medical degree in Manila Central University Hospital, Manila, Philippines, prior to immigrating to the US for more specialty training. Dr. V, as he is called by acquaintances, hanged his shingles in Ukiah, California before moving to the Sacramento area for good.
He was born in the Philippines, his parents were Jose P. Villarica, M.D., who was deceased during WWII, he was a guerilla doctor, mother, Marcela D. Villarica was an English teacher and died 6 days prior to her 106th birthday in Port Hope, Canada. Dr. V, lost his wife unexpectedly after a short illness here in Roseville, CA. The family consists of 5 adult DNA siblings, 1 adopted daughter, 2 stepsons, their respective spouses and thirteen grandchildren scattered in California, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.
Dr. Villarica in enjoying his family, circle of social friends and always happy to meet and make more friends.