National Hispanic Health Foundation Honors Chelsea Clinton, Roberto Clemente, Jr., Dr. Gary Butts, and NY Assemblyman Felix Ortiz and Students for Health Reform

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NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), established by the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), hosts its tenth New York City Gala Awards Ceremony where 10 outstanding students enrolled in health professional schools will be given scholarships to help finish school and become health providers in a new era under the Affordable Care Act, focusing on prevention and wellness.

The gala ceremony will be December 5, 2013, at the New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 5th Avenue, NY, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Also being honored are leaders who are transforming their organizations so that more Latinos will have access to quality affordable healthcare. Awardees are:

Chelsea Clinton – for motivating and informing young adults, especially Latinas, to be independent and make healthy decisions for themselves and their families

Roberto Clemente, Jr – for his experiences in major league baseball to connect sports with health through business that helps build healthy athletes

Gary Butts, MD, Associate Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai – for his career to inspire students and faculty to be the best doctors they can be and for supporting President Obama's STEM Initiative, to recruit minority students to medical schools

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz - for his pioneering legislation on obesity so that today our cities have more fresh fruits and vegetables, less sugary drinks and less fat food options, and more bike and walking paths

"We are thrilled because we are honoring leaders who are role models for these remarkable students," said Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO of NHHF and NHMA. "And by partnering with visionary sponsors, we are able to increase Latino provider to be the providers for the new insured under the ACA.  The United Health Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor and dedicated $160,000 to NHMA's Health Professional Student Scholarship Program. Novo Nordisk is a Silver Sponsor. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Aetna, Pfizer, Maximus, Bayer are Bronze Sponsors, Empire BlueCrossBlueShield, New York City Health and Hospital Corporation, New York Academy of Medicine, and the Walt Disney Company are also sponsors.  MundoFox and UNIVISION are media partners.

"The truth is simple: health reform cannot be addressed without creating many more providers that are culturally and linguistically skilled," said Dr. Rios. "The organizations that are sponsoring the NHHF Health Professional Student Scholarship Program get that fact and are true leaders in the industry."

This year's NHHF Scholarships were awarded to students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to providing healthcare to the Hispanic community, the nation's largest minority group. Since the scholarship program was launched in 2004, NHHF has awarded over 150 scholarships.

The 2013 scholarship award winners are:

Rick Aguilar, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Class of 2015

Julissa Baez, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public, Service, New York University

Carine Davila, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Class of 2016

Johanna De Jesus, New York University School of Medicine, Class of 2014

Saera Fernandez, Columbia University School of Nursing, Class of 2015

Mark Hering, East Carolina School of Dental Medicine, Class of 2015

Nallely Saldana-Ruiz, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Class of 2015

Cielo Velandia, Chamberlain College of Nursing, Class of 2015

Karina Vergara, Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Class of 2014

Normandy Villa, Columbia University, Class of 2014

ABOUT: NHHF is the 501(c)(3) arm of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), a nonprofit organization that represents 45,000 Hispanic physicians across the U.S. NHHF is affiliated with NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and has its national headquarters at the New York Academy of Medicine. The mission of NHHF is to improve the health of Hispanics through research and educational activities.

SOURCE National Hispanic Health Foundation