Herrera-Acena Honored with Power Meter Award
Manuel Guillermo Herrera-Acena, MD, received the second annual Poderometro Award from El Planeta, the largest circulating Spanish-speaking newspaper in New England. Every year, El Planeta recognizes 100 leaders who have contributed to the well being and health of Latinos in Massachusetts and selects one among them to receive the Poderometro (Spanish for “Power Meter”) Award. Herrera-Acena received the award at a reception on Dec. 7 at The Boston Globe, which is affiliated with El Planeta.
“Dr. Guillermo Herrera-Acena represents a role model of tenacity and powerful leadership,” Javier J. Marin, editor of El Planeta, said. “His impetus to serve students and assist Hispanic families in Boston is recognized by all. He is a person who has given all for his family and his community.”
Herrera-Acena is the founder and director of the BWH Spanish Clinic, which provides culturally congruent primary medical care and mental health care for Spanish-speaking and bilingual patients who prefer to receive health services in Spanish. The clinic provides services in internal medicine, psychiatry, social services, counseling, nutrition, preventive medicine and a mutual support group for diabetic patients
Herrera-Acena also is active in international medical education. He coordinates an active medical student exchange program between Harvard Medical School and five Latin American academic medical centers. He directs “Nutrition and Rural Medicine in Latin America,” a fourth-year elective course that introduces Harvard medical students to the language and culture of Latin America and the Spanish-speaking community in the U.S. The elective includes intensive Spanish instruction by Professor Chad Wright and a two-month rotation in Latin America. Participants become bilingual and bicultural by studying and working alongside fellow Latin American students. Senior Latin American students come to Harvard to take part in fourth-year elective courses.
“I am delighted to accept the award on behalf of BWH’s Spanish Clinic staff, our many collaborators and students past and present who have made extraordinary efforts to learn Spanish in order to better serve the Latino community in the U.S.,” Herrera-Acena said. “This award recognizes the clinic as a symbol of the culturally congruent medical care Latinos receive at BWH and at our community health centers.”