NAHN 2026 Hispanic Health Policy Summit
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Elena Rios
MD, MSPH, MACP
President, National Hispanic Health Foundation
Dr. Rios, a distinguished Medical Doctor with a Master’s of Science in Public Health, Master of the American College of Physicians, has received multiple national and international awards for her outstanding contributions to health equity. Dr. Rios started her career in 1992 as a policy advisor for the State of California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development; in 1993 for the White House Health Care Reform Team, where she met physicians to establish the NHMA and NHHF; and in 1994 for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. After 30 years of dedicated service part-time at NHMA and NHHF, shaping their mission and impact, Dr. Rios is now focusing all her efforts on leading NHHF's initiatives. She started the Hispanic Physician Leadership Fellowship, which has resulted in hundreds of Hispanic physician leaders serving in the public and private sectors. Rios earned her BA from Stanford University, MSPH and MD from UCLA School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Internal Medicine Residency from Santa Clara and White Memorial Hospitals, and her NIH NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship from UCLA Department of Medicine.
Lisa Summers
DrPH, CNM
Co-Founder and President, Healing Politics
Dr. Summers sees Healing Politics as the culmination of a career that was grounded in clinical care and education before expanding to policy and advocacy. She practiced clinically for 20 years as a nurse and midwife and held faculty positions in schools of nursing and medicine before shifting to health policy work. Dr. Summers spent 11 years at the American College of Nurse-Midwives, where she was Director of Professional Services, and held policy positions at the American Nurses Association and Centering Healthcare Institute. She has spoken and written widely on healthcare policy and advocacy and, for 10 years prior to co-founding Healing Politics, taught health policy at Yale School of Nursing.
Ariel Gonzalez
Esq
Principal, Vogel Group
Ariel Gonzalez is a lawyer and nationally recognized lobbyist with nearly 25 years of experience in government relations and health policy, holding senior roles across Fortune 500 companies, top consulting firms, and major healthcare organizations. He has been named a Top Lobbyist by both the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and The Hill, and is widely respected for building successful coalitions, advancing innovative policy solutions, and shaping emerging areas like AI and blockchain. Ariel has led advocacy efforts for the March of Dimes, American Psychiatric Association, AARP, and others, helping to pass landmark reforms in mental health, maternal health, and healthcare access. He currently serves on the Board of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance and regularly engages policymakers across federal agencies. Ariel holds degrees from James Madison University, George Washington University, and Catholic University School of Law, and is a member of the Virginia State Bar.
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