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.
From Space to COVID-19
Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor’s lifelong aspiration was to become an astronaut. Following her attainment of an MD degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, where she also served as chief resident in the Internal Medicine Department for a year, she pursued an aerospace medicine residency and obtained an MS in Public Health in 2007.
After joining the Johnson Space Center as a Flight Surgeon, Dr. Auñón-Chancellor’s remarkable journey led to her selection as a member of the 20th NASA astronaut class, just three years later. In 2018, she achieved an extraordinary milestone by spending 197 days aboard the International Space Station, making history as the first Hispanic physician to venture into outer space. During her half-year mission, she conducted vital research on the ISS, focusing on experiments pertaining to Parkinson’s disease and cancer.
Dr. Auñón-Chancellor’s outstanding contributions have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the Antarctica Service Medal, the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, among others.
Since successfully completing her space mission, Dr. Auñón-Chancellor has been dedicated to patient care and the training of internal medicine residents at LSU Health Sciences Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
