National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.
At first it may seem awkward this observation doesn’t follow a traditional calendar month, but the dates make perfect sense! September 15 is set as the starting date for the month as it is important for many reasons. It is the independence anniversary for Latin American countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. From here onwards, the independence days of Mexico and Chile fall on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Dia de la Raza or Columbus Day also falls within this month on October 12.
NOAH is proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions to medicine brought forth by Hispanic healthcare pioneers. Watch The Beat over the next four weeks for weekly articles highlighting these stories.
Brain Imaging Pioneer
Born in Mexico, Dr. Volkow obtained her medical degree from the National University of Mexico in Mexico City, where her remarkable achievements led to her receiving the prestigious Robins Award as the top medical student of her generation. Following her medical education, she pursued a psychiatric residency at New York University, where her excellence in the field earned her a Laughlin Fellowship from The American College of Psychiatrists, recognizing her as one of the ten most outstanding psychiatric residents in the United States.
Dr. Volkow is widely regarded as a pioneer in the application of brain imaging techniques to delve into the impact of drugs on the human brain. Her groundbreaking work has established that drug addiction is indeed a disease of the brain.
Beyond this, Dr. Volkow’s research spans various facets of neurochemical mechanisms, such as investigating the reasons behind the diverse responses to drugs among individuals, exploring both the gratifying and therapeutic aspects of drugs, and diving into the changes that take place in the dopamine system as people age. Her investigations have revealed that even in healthy individuals devoid of neurological disorders, the diminishing dopamine brain function associated with aging is linked to diminished motor function and alterations in cognitive performance. Currently, her research endeavors center around devising strategies to mitigate these age-related losses.
Dr. Volkow’s exceptional contributions have earned her widespread recognition, including a place in Time magazine‘s list of the “Top 100 People Who Shape Our World,” a spot as “One of the 20 People to Watch” according to Newsweek magazine, and the esteemed title of “Innovator of the Year” as bestowed by U.S. News & World Report.
