Professional Purpose.
-To develop the essential skills, competencies, knowledge base, and expertise required to serve patients with compassion and integrity
-To promote cultural sensitivity with particular emphasis on serving the un/underinsured, immigrants, those suffering substance abuse and addiction, refugees, those suffering the condition of homelessness and poverty, and marginalized populations
-To advocate for critical and skeptical thinking
-To help break the stigma associated with mental and behavioral health
-To self-identify professional weaknesses and deficiencies, and work tirelessly to repair them
-To embrace constructive criticism
-To embrace life-long learning
-To seek truth and justice in all things
-To learn from and collaborate with like-minded colleagues
-To advocate for health care as a human right
-To create art, film, journalism, and conversation that stand for progress and humanism
-To promote cultural sensitivity with particular emphasis on serving the un/underinsured, immigrants, those suffering substance abuse and addiction, refugees, those suffering the condition of homelessness and poverty, and marginalized populations
-To advocate for critical and skeptical thinking
-To help break the stigma associated with mental and behavioral health
-To self-identify professional weaknesses and deficiencies, and work tirelessly to repair them
-To embrace constructive criticism
-To embrace life-long learning
-To seek truth and justice in all things
-To learn from and collaborate with like-minded colleagues
-To advocate for health care as a human right
-To create art, film, journalism, and conversation that stand for progress and humanism
Dr. Leo Lopez III awarded 2017 National Hispanic Resident of the Year
Read more about the award as reported by Mega Doctor News - here
"Texas UnMedicaided" - Directed by Leo Lopez III, MD
Dr. Lopez directed "Texas UnMedicaided", a documentary film examining Texas' decision not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The film is currently touring through universities and physician advocacy groups in Texas.
Leo Lopez III, M.D. TEDx San Antonio 2014 - The New Drug Trade
Have you ever crossed the border into Mexico for medical, pharmaceutical, or dental care? How does the War on Drugs and access to care affect United States Citizens along the south Texas Border? Watch this TEDx Talk by Dr. Lopez to learn about The New Drug Trade.
Leo Lopez III, MD TEDxTAMU 2016 - "Image of the Enemy"
Dr. Lopez discusses his documentary film work shot in Israel - Palestine. This talk describes the idea of perception amongst groups in conflict and asks the audience to reflect on the structures used to create an enemy.
Publications
1. On the Texas–Mexico border, a new drug trade emerges
Lopez, Leo
The Lancet , Volume 382 , Issue 9894 , 756 - 757
2. Behind the Border
Lopez, Leo
The New Physician, March-April 2015, 23-27
Lopez, Leo
The Lancet , Volume 382 , Issue 9894 , 756 - 757
2. Behind the Border
Lopez, Leo
The New Physician, March-April 2015, 23-27
Biography
Leo Lopez III, M.D. is a Family Medicine Physician and Senior Resident at Christus
Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program in San Antonio, Texas. He is a graduate of the
University of Texas School of Medicine San Antonio Class of 2015 and a proud Lozano-Long
Physician. Dr. Lopez is a 2016-2017 Dr. James Martin Leadership Award recipient from the
Texas Academy of Family Physicians. This award enables Dr. Lopez to focus on vital health
policy issues in Austin, Texas. Dr. Lopez also received the 2015-2016 “Heart for Service” award
from Christus Santa Rosa Health System. In March of 2015, Leo received the 2015 Excellence
in Public Health Award from the United States Public Health Service and the UT School of
Medicine San Antonio. This award recognizes medical students across the United States who
are involved in public health issues in their community and work to protect, promote, and
advance the health and safety of our nation. Leo was also inducted to the Gold Humanism
Honor Society. The mission of this society is to recognize individuals who are exemplars of
humanistic patient care and who can serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. In
addition, Leo earned The Dr. and Mrs. Alexander David Major MD Family Physician Presidential
Endowed Award, The John S. Primomo MD Excellence in Academic Family Medicine Award,
The Texas Indo-American Physician Society Southwest Chapter Family Medicine Award, and
The Bates Family Medicine Award. Leo is a Rio Grande City native and a graduate of the RGC
High Class of 2007. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from Texas
A&M University in 2011. Leo graduated from South Texas College in 2007 as part of the
inaugural Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy class.
Leo has lead public health initiatives as a health care provider in Guatemala. He’s
directed and produced documentary films on human rights in Israel and Palestine. He currently
is directing a film on health policy surrounding the medicaid expansion issue in Texas. He’s
worked in disaster-plagued areas in Japan with the United Nations Major Group for Children
and Youth on projects revolving around advocacy and disaster risk reduction. Leo is also an
investigative journalist. He’s published articles across the globe for leading medical journals like
The Lancet and The New Physician. Leo’s journalistic focus is on the psycho-social factors
impacting health and well-being. He recently delivered a talk on the TEDx stage in San Antonio,
where he presented on south Texas health disparities and The New Drug Trade. In 2016, Leo
took to the TEDx stage at Texas A&M University to discuss the “Image of the Enemy”. Through
his time in medical school, Leo served as the National Vice President for Membership of the
American Medical Student Association outside Washington D.C., while holding a seat on their
Board of Trustees. Dr. Lopez’s clinical research focuses on slowing the progression of dementia
in patients living in long term care facilities. He also serves as the founder and President of
“Salud, Su Derecho”, a nonprofit organization aimed at reducing health disparities and providing
free health care services for low income families in south Texas. Leo currently serves on the
Board of Directors for Texas Doctors for Social Responsibility and as a clinical advisor for the
Corazon Clinic for people suffering homelessness in downtown San Antonio, Texas.
Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Program in San Antonio, Texas. He is a graduate of the
University of Texas School of Medicine San Antonio Class of 2015 and a proud Lozano-Long
Physician. Dr. Lopez is a 2016-2017 Dr. James Martin Leadership Award recipient from the
Texas Academy of Family Physicians. This award enables Dr. Lopez to focus on vital health
policy issues in Austin, Texas. Dr. Lopez also received the 2015-2016 “Heart for Service” award
from Christus Santa Rosa Health System. In March of 2015, Leo received the 2015 Excellence
in Public Health Award from the United States Public Health Service and the UT School of
Medicine San Antonio. This award recognizes medical students across the United States who
are involved in public health issues in their community and work to protect, promote, and
advance the health and safety of our nation. Leo was also inducted to the Gold Humanism
Honor Society. The mission of this society is to recognize individuals who are exemplars of
humanistic patient care and who can serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine. In
addition, Leo earned The Dr. and Mrs. Alexander David Major MD Family Physician Presidential
Endowed Award, The John S. Primomo MD Excellence in Academic Family Medicine Award,
The Texas Indo-American Physician Society Southwest Chapter Family Medicine Award, and
The Bates Family Medicine Award. Leo is a Rio Grande City native and a graduate of the RGC
High Class of 2007. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from Texas
A&M University in 2011. Leo graduated from South Texas College in 2007 as part of the
inaugural Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy class.
Leo has lead public health initiatives as a health care provider in Guatemala. He’s
directed and produced documentary films on human rights in Israel and Palestine. He currently
is directing a film on health policy surrounding the medicaid expansion issue in Texas. He’s
worked in disaster-plagued areas in Japan with the United Nations Major Group for Children
and Youth on projects revolving around advocacy and disaster risk reduction. Leo is also an
investigative journalist. He’s published articles across the globe for leading medical journals like
The Lancet and The New Physician. Leo’s journalistic focus is on the psycho-social factors
impacting health and well-being. He recently delivered a talk on the TEDx stage in San Antonio,
where he presented on south Texas health disparities and The New Drug Trade. In 2016, Leo
took to the TEDx stage at Texas A&M University to discuss the “Image of the Enemy”. Through
his time in medical school, Leo served as the National Vice President for Membership of the
American Medical Student Association outside Washington D.C., while holding a seat on their
Board of Trustees. Dr. Lopez’s clinical research focuses on slowing the progression of dementia
in patients living in long term care facilities. He also serves as the founder and President of
“Salud, Su Derecho”, a nonprofit organization aimed at reducing health disparities and providing
free health care services for low income families in south Texas. Leo currently serves on the
Board of Directors for Texas Doctors for Social Responsibility and as a clinical advisor for the
Corazon Clinic for people suffering homelessness in downtown San Antonio, Texas.