The National Hispanic Medical Association was requested by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in 2002 to sponsor the "National Hispanic Health Leadership Summit" that brought together 175 experts in Hispanic healthcare. In collaboration with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, other invited Congressmen, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the California Endowment, the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools, Inc., Aventis, Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, PhRMA, and several national Hispanic organizations, NHMA convened community leaders to build consensus on strategies to improve Hispanic health programs and policies at the national level.

The purpose of the summit was to 1) share the strengths and weaknesses of current health care programs that impact Hispanics; 2) discuss strategies needed for future health care programs; and 3) build consensus on the Federal programs and policies that can be developed or enhanced to improve the quality of health care delivery to Hispanic in the United States over the next five years. Of note, the U.S. Surgeon presented his vision for a healthy America in one of his first public appearances. A report was issued and distributed nationwide. A summary was presented to both the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus at their annual policy conferences. As a result of the 2-day working meeting, several hundred recommendations were published and provided to Congress. NHMA is interested in continuing the educational role to the leaders in health policy.