5 Social-Media Savvy Latinx Health Professionals Across the Country You Should Follow

Finding a doctor or health professional you are comfortable with can be really complex, especially if you are a female or person of color. It’s important to find someone that listens to your concerns, understands your unique experiences, and is empathetic.  

Read on to learn about five health professionals breaking through their respective industries, as well as our hearts, by providing accessibility to the Latinx community by speaking in both English and Spanish, and paving the way for Latinx progress in pediatrics, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and more.

Dr. Ali Rodriguez, MD. OB-GYN (Phoenix, AZ)

Oftentimes, women’s health is seen as a taboo topic — unspoken and ignored. Not on Dr. Ali Rodriguez’s watch - she’s taking an entertaining and honest approach to educate and empower women about their bodies. Known as “Dr. Ali Rod, MD” on social media, she was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the U.S. with her family at three years old. She studied as an undergrad at the University of Arizona, then moved back to Puerto Rico for four years of medical school. She then completed an OB-GYN residency at the University of Oklahoma and then moved to Phoenix where she currently practices. Dr. Ali has created a judgement-free environment where women can feel confident, empowered, and supported. If you, a friend or family member want some fun, approachable intel on sex, birth control, pregnancy or other women’s health topics — follow Dr. Ali on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. She has accumulated over 1.4 million followers on TikTok and provides information in both Spanish and English across all her accounts. 

Dr. Carlos A. Charles, MD. Dermatologist (New York, NY)

Dr. Charles, a NYC-based dermatologist with Dominican roots, is making sure each one of us protects our skin no matter who we are and how much pigment our skin has. 

He is a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. After completing medical school and an internal medicine internship at the Weill Cornell Medical College-New York Presbyterian Hospital, he completed a research fellowship focused on melanoma and pigmented lesions at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 

In 2012 he founded Derma di Colore, a comprehensive general and cosmetic dermatology practice that has a special interest in the treatment of skin care needs for darker skin tones.  He also co-founded 456 Skin, the first customized skincare for melanin-rich skin. Dr. Charles gives his online followers the inside scoop on the best ways to treat and care for dermatologic issues that commonly affect pigmented skin types. Have any questions about the causes or solutions to your skin concerns? If you can’t book a visit to his NYC office, you might find some of your questions answered on his Instagram. 

Dr. Jennifer Villalta, DDS, MPH. Pediatric Dentist (Los Angeles, CA)

They say your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, which makes oral hygiene and care really important. That’s why Dr. Jennifer Villalta is so passionate about improving the oral health of children and empowering families by educating and preventing the #1 chronic disease in children: dental cavities. 

A first generation Latina who grew up in Los Angeles, Dr. Villalta started in the dental field when she was 16 years old as a Registered Dental Assistant. She eventually went on to complete her undergrad studies at UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Sciences, and then attended the Arthur A. Dugoni University of the Pacific Dental School in San Francisco. Her passion led her back to UCLA, where she completed her Pediatric Dental Residency program, while simultaneously obtaining her Masters in Public Health. 

Dr. Villalta is taking her followers along the ride to pearly whites and good health - in both English and Spanish. Follow Dr. Villalta on Instagram.

Dr. Denise Nuñez, MD. Pediatrician & Critical Care Physician (Bronx, NY)

Not all heroes wear capes, some wear scrubs. Dr. Denise Nuñez is a bilingual Dominican-American board-certified general pediatrician and critical care physician, as well as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. She received her medical degree from Pedro Henriquez Ureña University in the Dominican Republic and completed her internship for pediatric residency and fellowship at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in the Bronx. Dr. Nuñez is now focused on health equality in the Latinx community — creating organizations and clinics around various parts of New York City that are focused on emergency care, pediatric care and youth in order to increase Latinx leadership in the medical field and ensure that patients and families are the focus of care and are treated with dignity and respect. Follow her Instagram if you or a family member are looking for content in Spanish - including the latest on COVID-19, how to prepare your children for a pediatric visit, nutrition for children and families, and how to be compassionate and considerate if your young child is struggling with gender identity.

Dr. Michael Gabriel Galvez, MD. Plastic Surgery (Madera, CA)

Dr. Michael Galvez is the Director of Pediatric Hand Surgery at Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, California. A board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he gives his social media followers the opportunity to know what it’s like to specialize in pediatric hand and upper extremity surgery. Not only is the bilingual doctor sharing how he does procedures, he is outspoken about the lack of diversity in medical schools and investing in sustainable and supportive pipelines for future doctors that reflect the many diverse populations across the U.S. Dr. Galvez is a great example of a doctor helping up-and-coming professionals succeed through mentorship and shadowing.

He’s been transparent about his untraditional path to medicine on his YouTube channel. Both of his parents immigrated to the U.S from Peru, and he was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay Area. He wanted to pursue medicine when he was in high school but his grades weren’t up to par, so he attended community college. Thanks to tutoring and other special programs, he was able to apply and get into the University of California at Berkeley. He received his undergraduate degree in molecular and cellular biology from UC Berkeley, and then completed his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine. You can read about the rest of his educational path on his website. Follow Dr. Galvez on Instagram and YouTube.

We’re in awe of the incredible journeys and career paths of these Latinx health professionals, and so inspired by how they provide transparency and honesty to their communities. If you, a friend or a family member are looking for a health professional - follow these pros on social media and spread the word to bring more awareness to the meaningful work they do. If you’re looking for any other product or service by a Latinx entrepreneur, check out our business directory. If you want to suggest other Latinx health professionals, submit them to our directory or reach out to us on Instagram. We love hearing your feedback.

Authored by Bianca Alvarez.