Mega Doctor News
Dr. Leo Lopez III, a Rio Grande City native, was recently awarded 2018 National Hispanic Resident Doctor of the Year by the National Hispanic Medical Association in Washington D.C.
Lopez wins this national honor for the second year in a row, having won the award in 2017 as well. Dr. Lopez is a family medicine physician, filmmaker, journalist, and health policy advocate, with interests in alleviating health disparities.
As a third-year resident doctor with Christus Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program, Lopez practices medicine in San Antonio, Texas. As a filmmaker, Lopez presented his documentary film “Texas UnMedicaided” at several state-wide conferences in order to tell the story of working families, whom lack access to healthcare in Texas.
He also presented his work in human rights and refugee health at The American Academy of Family Physicians National Global Health Symposium.
In addition, he also presented his research in global health ethics at the 6th World Congress for Clinical Safety in Rome, Italy. He taught other doctors how to use film and journalism in medicine at a national global health conference.
He designed a new, creative way to teach clinical skills to family medicine doctors through the “escape room” simulation models. He will teach other physicians how to use this method in Washington DC later this spring.
Dr. Lopez serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit “Texas Doctors for Social Responsibility” where he examines health policies and advocates for low-income families at the state level. On weekends, he spends time volunteering at a free clinic for homeless persons in downtown San Antonio.
He recently spent time with immigrant families along the border, learning about their struggles in these difficult times. He organized a countywide, community health summit in the Rio Grande Valley.
As President of the Board for “Salud, Su Derecho”, a non-profit organization, he assembled a working group for strategic health priorities and is taking action to empower young women moving forward into the future.
