Meet our familia

Erik was born and raised in Houston, TX. He currently lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and three kids. His healthcare experience spans 20+ years and includes stints at Tenet Health, EverlyWell, and Amazon Care. When not building Zócalo Health, Erik enjoys spending time with his family exploring the outdoors or playing sports. He likes to unwind by making a family recipe such as his mom's chiles rellenos or his dad's carne guisada. His favorite food is that which is served at a backyard carne asada with great music and great friends.

Mariza was born and raised in New Mexico and later moved to Washington DC for graduate school.She found herself moving to the west coast to explore career opportunities in digital health with a focus on solutions for vulnerable populations.She worked for the US Health and Human Service Department, Optum/Alere Health, Omada and most recently Amazon/AWS. Currently, Mariza lives in Seattle, WA with her family, 2 dogs, and 2 chickens. She loves hiking, biking, and exploring different towns in the PNW. Being a Native New Mexican, her favorite foods will always be Hatch green chile enchiladas served with a side of sopapillas.

Julia, originally from Bridgeport, Texas, holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Texas A&M University. Julia is a first-generation Latina and the daughter of two immigrants from Mexico. Her vision is to enhance healthcare access for Latinos, with a particular focus on those in rural areas. Prior to her current role as Chief of Staff, she held roles such as Training Manager and Operations Manager for the West region at Curative. She now lives in Seattle, Washington, where she is pursuing a Master's in Healthcare Administration at the University of Washington. During her free time, Julia enjoys running and exploring new coffee shops.

Based in Houston, Paul Barrón holds the role of Technical Program Manager, where he skillfully navigates the intersection of software engineering, product design, and team leadership. Currently focused on delivering solutions for the U.S. Latino population, Paul Barrón balances technical acumen with a strong sense of product vision. His work isn't just about writing code; it's about crafting digital experiences that resonate culturally and solve real-world problems. He is a holistic thinker, seamlessly bridging the gaps between various aspects of product development.

Renee is originally from Santa Ana in Southern California and has called the San Francisco Bay Area her home for over a decade. Her background is in anthropology and public health, and she received degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of San Francisco. She has combined experience with qualitative, clinical, and user research within virtual and community health settings. Renee currently lives in San Francisco with her husband and cat and she enjoys block/linocut printing, thrifting, and traveling.

Dr. Sarah Lopez was born and raised in Orange County, California. She was part of the first program in medical education for the Latino community (PRIME-LC) at UCI, and throughout her career, has been a proponent for advocacy through education. From establishing an emergency medicine fellowship to working as a Patient Safety Officer where she developed an innovative curriculum focused on a safe and just culture, Dr. Lopez aims to further build trust between health institutions and the community.

Dr. Nona Hanson is a board certified family physician with more than 20 years experience in both primary and urgent care. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and is especially experienced in preventive care and women’s health. Having worked in a range of settings including private practice, community clinics, and corporate health care, Dr. Hanson is excited to be part of Zócalo Health.

Dr. Amber Lara was inspired to be a doctor after seeing the caring, respectful relationship her mother had with their family doctor. As a second-generation Mexican-American, she is passionate about family and women’s health and enjoys working with patients to develop a health plan that fits their lifestyle. Dr. Lara studied osteopathic medicine at Western University of Health Sciences where she was part of the Latino Medical Student Association. After a community health fellowship working with incarcerated patients, she continues to be active in that space as well.

Daisy Lopez, a first-generation Latina from the Central Valley, navigated the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system at an early age to help her parents feel welcomed and understood. Motivated by her background, she pursued a bachelor's degree in Public Health Administration at San José State University, aiming to improve healthcare access for the Latino population. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new music, reading and taking walks with her dog Canela.