Jennifer Romo, MD, witnessed her grandmother struggle to get quality care for her breast cancer because of her lack of health literacy and English proficiency. After her grandmother passed from her cancer, Jennifer dedicated her work to ensure no patient is left behind because of those same barriers. 

Now a Spanish-speaking family medicine physician at UCSF Fresno, Jennifer often hears from patients that, for the first time, they truly understand their chronic conditions, because they can discuss their health without a language barrier. She chose family medicine because it’s a specialty that never turns anyone away and has the power to offer care that is equitable, inclusive, and deeply human. 

During residency at Valley Health Team in Fresno, Jennifer cared for communities across the Central Valley that were drastically affected by physician shortages. Jennifer became a California HEAL Fellow to deepen her understanding of how to best care for underserved communities in low-resource settings. She plans to continue to deliver compassionate care while developing her ability to drive change at the health system level. 

For Jennifer, access to healthcare is a human right. With years of service and enduring relationships in the Central Valley, she is ready to expand her impact by helping build a healthcare system where no one is left behind.