Lourdes Alanis, MD, MPH, Interventional Radiologist | 2024 Latina of Influence
Hispanic Lifestyle is pleased to honor a double-board certified in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Lourdes Alanis, MD, MPH, Interventional Radiologist as a Latina of Influence. Dr. Alanis will be recognized for her leadership in our community during Hispanic Lifestyle’s Connecting Latinas of Influence | Los Angeles, to be held on October 10, 2024.
Dr. Alanis is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and was born and raised in Arleta, California, a predominant Hispanic working-class community. She is the eldest of three children and the first in her family to attend college.
She received her B.S. degree in Anthropology/Premed at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Alanis completed her Doctor of Medicine degree and MPH degree in Health Policy and Management as part of the UCLA PRIME program, five-year concurrent at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and the Fielding School of Public Health. She gained the skills to become a leader in medicine addressing policy, research, and care for underserved communities.
Dr. Alanis is double-board certified in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (IR). She represents the 34% of women and 6.9% of Latinos/Hispanic physicians within this field. IR entails surgical interventions performed through a pinhole without the need for large incisions and uses imaging, innovative technology, and devices to treat a variety of conditions throughout the body. Dr. Alanis is passionate about improving public health for underserved communities by improving access to IR and pioneering advances in minimally invasive, image-guided therapies.
She is well-respected in her field and understands the importance of educating the public about IR and how it can bridge the gap in health equity for critical procedures that help treat conditions that disproportionately impact underserved and minority populations such as postpartum hemorrhaging, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease that may result in limb amputation.
Dr. Alanis worked on the Central Coast as partner in a lucrative and thriving private group that covered five hospitals that served a mixture of rural and suburban communities, before venturing off as an independent Interventional Radiologist with the goal of continuing to provide minimally invasive and patient centered care to underserved communities throughout California. Dr. Alanis is beginning to explore further avenues through which she will continue to practice her commitment to service via health policy, missions to third-world countries, podcasts, journal articles, conferences, books, healing through movement, and art.
Nomination statement
I am thrilled to nominate Lourdes for the Latina of Influence award. Not only has she been my best friend since fourth grade, but she has also been an unwavering source of inspiration and guidance throughout my life. Lourdes’s journey embodies resilience, determination, and a profound commitment to breaking barriers in the medical field.
From a young age, Lourdes harbored a passion for medicine, aspiring to become a doctor. Despite facing numerous obstacles along her path, she remained steadfast in her pursuit, refusing to succumb to the challenges that would have deterred many others. Her perseverance paid off as she not only achieved her dream of becoming a doctor but also pursued a specialized field, emerging as one of the few female and Latinx Interventional Radiologists in the world.
Located in the heart of the Central Coast of California, Lourdes continues to serve her community with unparalleled dedication and compassion. Her impact extends far beyond the confines of her medical practice. Recognizing the importance of representation and mentorship, Lourdes has taken on the role of a trailblazer and advocate for aspiring Latinx physicians.
Lourdes’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond her professional duties on the Central Coast of California. She is a visionary who recognizes the power of storytelling in inspiring the next generation. Through her upcoming podcast, she aims to spotlight Latina physicians, sharing their journeys and struggles to illuminate the path for young Latinas aspiring to enter medicine. This initiative is a testament to her dedication to elevating the voices of Latinas in the medical profession and showcasing the realms of possibility.
In addition to her podcast, Lourdes generously volunteers her time with pre-med programs tailored for communities of color, serving as a mentor and role model for aspiring Latinx, Latino, and women of color in medicine. Through her guidance and mentorship, she not only imparts invaluable knowledge but also cultivates a sense of empowerment and possibility among her mentees.
Lourdes’s impact on the medical field and her community is nothing short of extraordinary. Her unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for all who have the privilege of knowing her. I wholeheartedly believe that Lourdes embodies the essence of a Latina of Influence and is deserving of this prestigious recognition.
