Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York

7th Annual Community Breakfast, June 22, 2019

with Keynote Speaker: Dr. Raul Vazquez

Raul Vazquez was born in the South Bronx, New York. He and his two younger brothers were raised by a single mother on less than a modest income. Raul was the first in his family to ever graduate from High School. Although, young Raul did not personally know any doctors, he always aspired to become one. He recalls going to the local Hospital Emergency Room with his uncle and feeling distressed because neither the staff nor the physician could understand his uncle's spanish language. Dr. Vazquez vowed to alleviate that dilemma by becoming a doctor for mis-understood and under-represented people.

He graduated from Fordham University in 1985. After getting accepted to ten out of the eleven Medical Schools of which he applied, Dr. Vazquez set his sights on the University of Buffalo. He graduated from the University @ Buffalo's Medical School in 1989, and for the next 3 years completed his residency program at Deaconess and Buffalo General Hospitals.

Dr. Vazquez has held several administrative, and staff physician responsibilities at Sheehan Memorial Hospital, Columbus Hospital, and the Kaleida Health Systems, just to name a few. He also holds an associate clinical professorship from U.B.'s Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Vazquez is board certified and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Vazquez has received multiple awards this year including, the National Federation For Just Communities of Western New York, and the Community Leader Award in Healthcare. His professional affiliations include the Minority Health Council, nominated by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and appointed by the NYS Senate in June 2012. Governor Cuomo also appointed him to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in July 2011. In June 2009, Dr. Vazquez was nominated by Governor David Paterson, and approved by the NYS Senate to be a member of the NYS Medicaid Advisory Committee. Dr. Vazquez is currently the local chapter president of the National Medical Association.

Dr. Vazquez currently serves, and formerly served, on the Board of Directors for many diverse organizations, including but not limited to, Promesa Inc., HEALTHeLINK, UNYTS (Upstate New York Transplant Services), HUB (Hispanic United of Buffalo), Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, WNED Television, and Bryant & Stratton College. However, Dr. Vazquez's greatest accomplishment has been the development of Urban Family Practice, P.C., Westside Urgent Care and the Raul and Toni Vazquez Foundation. Dr. Vazquez opened the doors of his own private Family Practice on August 5, 1996. In October, 2003, he moved his practice to a newly built, "State of the Art," totally computerized, Medical Facility also located on the lower westside of Buffalo. He proudly serves an under-served area of diverse people.

Dr. Vazquez is a hero to many young people, who look up to him, and believe that they too can accomplish their dreams. Today, Urban Family Practice services over 11,000 patients and their families. Dr. Vazquez is married to Toni Lynn; and continues to be the biggest HERO to his 4 children, Nina-age 16, Nadia-17, Raul III-21,and Saul, just 5 years old.

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