IX Annual Dr. Marcos Charles Santana Health Legacy Award 2025: Honoring Lives Dedicated to Health and Community Impact

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Bronx, NY – May 17, 2025

The Hispanic Health Professionals Association, Inc. (AHPSI), with over 35 years of service to the Hispanic immigrant community in the United States, is proud to announce the presentation of the IX Annual Dr. Marcos Charles Santana Health Legacy Award. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., during the XIX International Multidisciplinary Medical Congress, at the Cherkasky Auditorium, Montefiore Medical Center.

This prestigious award honors the legacy of Dr. Marcos Charles Santana, a distinguished Dominican physician who dedicated more than five decades to clinical practice, medical education, and community service in New York. A visionary in public health, Dr. Charles mentored over 400 Latino doctors and pioneered early HIV detection programs at Hostos Community College during the early AIDS crisis.

For 2025, the award will be presented to three outstanding individuals whose work reflects Dr. Charles’ enduring values of service, excellence, and commitment to community health:

🔹 Dr. David Lazala – Dr. Marcos Charles Santana Health Legacy Award for Dedication to Health Service
With more than 30 years of experience in family medicine, Dr. Lazala has provided compassionate, comprehensive care to generations of immigrant patients, becoming a pillar of primary healthcare in his community.

🔹 Dr. Leonor Francisca Tavárez Silverio – Dr. Marcos Charles Santana Health Legacy Award for Excellence in Mental Health and Community Service
With over 15 years of service in the mental health field, Dr. Tavárez has been a tireless advocate for emotional well-being in vulnerable populations, leading impactful support and awareness programs.

🔹 Fernando Martínez, journalist – Dr. Marcos Charles Santana Health Legacy Award: Recognition for Social Impact in Health Journalism
With over three decades in journalism, and more than five years reporting for El Diario La Prensa, the first Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, Martínez has brought visibility to critical health issues affecting immigrants, including nurses, physicians, and psychologists.

📧 info@ahpsi.org
📞 732-277-9640
🌐 www.ahpsi.org