Armando De Alba, MD, is committed to living each day by his personal statement: Protect and improve the health of every human within his office walls and beyond them.
Dr. De Alba, assistant professor of family medicine and assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion student programs in the UNMC College of Medicine, was recognized for his work as a physician — and for his leadership skills — with the National Hispanic Medicine Association’s Physician of the Year Award. The organization, established in 1994, is a nonprofit representing 50,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the United States. Dr. De Alba was recognized in late April during the National Hispanic Medical Association’s annual meeting in Chicago.
The recognition, which Dr. De Alba called “a beautiful surprise,” came out of the blue. Dr. De Alba learned that he was the recipient of this year’s award in late March.
The award is given annually to recognize a physician’s continued leadership to improve the health of the Hispanic community in the U.S.
Elena Rios, MD, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, has said that Dr. De Alba “demonstrates energy, passion, and strategic thinking in advancing the cause of health and education for all.” In a note congratulating Dr. De Alba, Rios said he is a leader who “can develop our shared vision to sustain the network, mentoring and leadership for the next generation.”
In addition to his work as a physician, the award also speaks to Dr. De Alba’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He served on the response team from UNMC and Nebraska Medicine and served as a spokesman for the Hispanic community on local, national and international levels. At the beginning of the pandemic, he was invited by Gov. Pete Ricketts to join him as a health care expert in what Gov. Ricketts told him was the first Spanish-language press conference at the Nebraska Capitol.
Locally, he collaborated with county and state health departments to host vaccine clinics for the community. Dr. De Alba got creative, helping to host clinics themed for Dia de los Muertos and another with mariachi music. At a later clinic, he brought in Mexican soccer legend Luis Hernandez, also known as El Matador.
“The vaccine clinics provided a space for the community to come and meet with health care providers, to ask questions and to debunk myths about COVID misinformation,” Dr. De Alba said.
During the pandemic, Dr. De Alba also served as a founding co-chair of the National Hispanic Medical Association’s Nebraska chapter.
Dr. De Alba said he’s grateful for the support of his family, friends as well as his workplace.
“My UNMC family — those colleagues and friends who also are providing care every day. I share this beautiful award with them,” he said.