Leadership Award cont. Ms. Lira has also been a consistent champion for the CHES® and MCHES® credentials, weaving health education competencies into mentorship, workforce development, and program operations throughout her leadership roles. By encouraging professional growth, modeling excellence in practice, and reinforcing the value of credentialed health education specialists, she has helped elevate the visibility and impact of certification within the CDC and beyond. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple CDC Honor Awards, reflecting a career grounded in service, innovation, and a deep commitment to protecting and improving public health. “Rosa Lira actively promotes the CHES® and MCHES® credentials, integrating competency-based practice into mentorship, recruitment, and workforce development,” said Walter R. Daley, DVM, MPH, Dipl. ADVPM, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Her mentorship and continual development of junior staff have been instrumental in advancing CDC’s mission to build state and local capacity and protect communities from public health threats. Her leadership, vision, and advocacy have strengthened public health systems, advanced the field of health education, and positively impacted communities nationwide.”
Dr. Alexandra Lopez Vera, PhD, MPH, CHES® , is a health educator and academic leader whose work has strengthened the connection between language access, health equity, and medical education. At the California University of Science and Medicine, she created and directs the Vida Medical Spanish Program, a required longitudinal curriculum embedded within the core pre-clerkship medical education experience. Through this work, she has helped make culturally responsive communication, ethical language access, and patient-centered care a more central part of physician training, preparing future clinicians to better serve Spanish-speaking communities and address communication barriers that contribute to health disparities. Beyond her institutional leadership, Dr. Lopez Vera has advanced the profession of health education through mentorship, scholarship, and national service. She actively promotes the value of the CHES® credential in academic and professional spaces, mentors students and early-career professionals across disciplines, and contributes to national
conversations on language access in healthcare through her service on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Medical Spanish. Her peer-reviewed publications, conference involvement, and ongoing leadership continue to expand recognition of health education’s vital role in equitable healthcare delivery and workforce development. “What distinguishes Dr. Lopez Vera is that her leadership is sustained and values-driven,” said Brenda Benites, MBS, of the California University of Science and Medicine. “She embodies the competencies and ethical standards associated with the CHES® credential in every aspect of her work. She leads with integrity, academic rigor, and a deep sense of responsibility to the communities she serves. Her contributions align directly with the mission of NCHEC and the purpose of recognizing outstanding service and leadership in the health education profession.” This year’s recipients reflect the strength, compassion, and leadership that continue to move the health education profession forward. Through their service, innovation, and commitment to excellence, these Certified Health Education Specialists embody the lasting value that dedicated health education specialists bring to institutions, communities, and public health systems.
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