Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, the National Hispanic Medical Association is a non-profit association representing 36,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the United States. The mission of the organization is to improve the health of Hispanics and other underserved populations. As a rapidly growing national resource based in the nation's capital, NHMA provides policymakers and health care providers with expert information and support in strengthening health service delivery to Hispanic communities across the nation. At its inception, NHMA held strategic planning meetings with physicians in five cities of the country, identifying the most critical issues they were facing and we took steps to define a blueprint of future activities in the following areas: delivery system, medical education, research, policy, and communications. In 1997, NHMA began convening its Annual Hispanic Health Conference in March each year in Washington, DC.

Our agenda includes expanding access to quality health care, increasing opportunities in medical education, cultural competence, and research for Latinos. Another focus is policy development and education efforts focused on eliminating health disparities faced by Latinos. The Board of Directors and Advisory Committee set the priorities for our advocacy agenda. The NHMA works closely with the Federal government and Congress, the private sector, private foundations as well as national Hispanic organizations. As a member of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, we meet regularly with Federal officials to hold them accountable on Hispanic issues. NHMA has worked closely with the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the National Hispanic Health Coalition in Washington, DC and with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). At the annual CHC Institute's Policy Summit, NHMA physicians provide expert testimony, ideas and community feedback. In addition, NHMA participates in coalitions with other organizations focused on improving racial/ethnic disparities in health.