Elmer Huerta MD MPH

Clinical Expertise

Elmer Huerta, MD, MPH, is the director of the Cancer Preventorium at Washington Cancer Institute, Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Huerta founded the low-income prevention and screening clinic in 1994, and continues to use it as a vehicle for reaching the Hispanic/Latino community in the Washington, D.C., area. His involvement with the Spanish-speaking community began more than 20 years ago, when he began his nationally and internationally broadcast radio and television health programs. Dr. Huerta’s non-profit company, Prevención, also provides important health education information to the Hispanic/Latino community.

Dr. Huerta remains directly involved in cancer research and is currently the principal investigator for the Latin American Cancer Research Coalition, a National Cancer Institute funded program.

Practice Focus

• Cancer Prevention and Control

• Graduate degree in public health, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
• MD from University of San Marcos, Peru
• Received training in internal medicine and medical oncology, University of San Marcos, Peru

• Internal medicine, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Md.

• Oncology research, Johns Hopkins Oncology Center (Baltimore, Md.)
• Cancer prevention and control, National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute

• Board Eligible, Preventive Medicine

• President, American Cancer Society
• Founding member, Board of Directors, American Legacy Foundation
• Member, Board of Directors, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
• Member, Board of Directors, Research America
• Member, Board of Directors, Intercultural Cancer Council
• President and founder, Prevencion, Inc.
• Innovations in Prevention Award, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (2004)
• Spirit of Life Foundation Humanitarian Award (2002)
• Walter C. Alvarez Award, American Medical Writers Association (2001)
• Oscar E. Edwards Memorial Award for Volunteerism and Community Service, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (2000)
• Leadership Award, Latino Caucus of the American Public Health (1997)
• The Broadcast Leadership Award, Board of Sponsors of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

• Repeatedly recognized for medical expertise
• Testified on minority health issues before Congress on many occasions
• Was appointed by President Clinton to be a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board In 1998
• Dr. Huerta’s Cancer Preventorium was noted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and it is one of the models for The Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2004 (H.R. 918/S.453)