Last week, Esperanza held the 2015 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference in Washington, D.C. where hundreds of faith leaders from across the country come together to learn from one another and advocate as one body for Hispanic communities nationwide. One huge aspect of this event is honoring Hispanics who have gone to great lengths to improve the lives of Hispanics everywhere.
Dr. Jesus Esquivel received the Esperanza Advocate Award for the amazing work he has done as Medical Director of International Oncology Initiatives & National Director for HIPEC Research at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. The Esperanza Advocate Award recognizes individuals who have stood up for the voiceless and the under-served, in the political realm, in education, and now the medical field.
You may remember Dr. Esquivel from Esperanza’s locally produced television special, which aired on Enlace TV in April, called “Historias de Esperanza: Ayudar es Contagioso”. In this special, Dr. Esquivel’s work in Guadalajara, Mexico was highlighted as he provided life-saving hyperthermic intraperitoneal surgery to patients and specialized training in peritoneal carcinomatosis to doctors at Instituto Jaliscience de Cancerlogia.
Dr. Esquivel is an Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, an adjunct member of the United States Military Cancer Institute, has contributed to over 60 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and scientific exhibits, and has presented at nearly 30 workshops.
In his formative years, he attended Jesuit school which taught him, “El que no vive para servir no sirve para vivir,” (he who does not live to serve is not fit to live), and that has been a driving force to use his medical talent do good throughout his life.
We congratulate Dr. Esquivel and hope that his story is an inspiration to generations of Hispanic medical professionals to come.