Moses Lake residents may not realize it, but one of the doctors caring for local families is also helping shape the future of healthcare on a national level.
Dr. Menjivar, an OB provider with Moses Lake Community Health Center (MLCHC), was recently selected to participate in the NHMA Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship, a nationally recognized program led by the National Hispanic Medical Association.
The fellowship, launched in 1999, supports Latino/a physicians who want to grow as leaders in healthcare, policy, and education. Its goal is to increase representation in leadership roles while improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities.
As part of the program, Dr. Menjivar traveled to Washington, D.C., where she joined physicians from across the country for leadership training, policy discussions, and advocacy work—much of it focused on improving care for Latino/a patients.
While the fellowship took her to the nation’s capital, Dr. Menjivar’s day-to-day work remains close to home. She provides obstetric care to families in Moses Lake at MLCHC and delivers babies locally at Samaritan Hospital. Many of the patients she serves are Latino/a, and ensuring they feel comfortable, understood, and represented in healthcare is deeply important to her.
“Representation matters,” Dr. Menjivar often emphasizes. Having providers who understand a patient’s culture, language, and lived experiences can make a meaningful difference—especially during pregnancy and childbirth. Building trust leads to better communication, stronger relationships, and healthier outcomes for families.
Her participation in the fellowship reflects more than a personal achievement. It represents a commitment to advocating for Latino/a patients both locally in Moses Lake and nationally through leadership and policy efforts.
Moses Lake Community Health Center is proud to support Dr. Menjivar and the work she brings back to the community—combining national leadership experience with compassionate, local care for families right here at home.