Assemblymember Mike Gipson, center, awards certificates to the eight scholarship recipients. (Lila Brown/L.A. Sentinel)

In an inspiring ceremony held on August 5, L.A. Care Health Plan honored the 2025 recipients of its Elevating the Safety Net (ESN) Medical School Scholarship Program at its headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. This prestigious event not only marked a significant milestone in the lives of eight promising future physicians but also highlighted the ongoing struggle for health equity in Los Angeles’ underserved communities.

The ESN Scholarship Program, now in its eighth year, awards full-ride medical school scholarships to aspiring doctors who are committed to serving the most vulnerable neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. The program awarded four scholarships to Hermona Okbu, Tenisha Janisse, Jessi Cristóbal Jeronimo Ruiz and Jessica Liliana Porras, who are attending Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

The other four scholarships went to Daisy Huerta, Ezenna Onuoha, Wendy Perez and Delmy Ruiz, who are attending David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Each will embark on their medical careers without the heavy burden of student debt, allowing them to focus on their mission of providing critical care where it is most needed.

The event was particularly poignant for those connected to CDU, considered California’s only Historically Black College and University (HBCU), despite not having the official designation. The university has long been a beacon of hope and opportunity for Black students seeking careers in medicine. Many of the scholarship recipients at CDU are passionate about serving the Black community, where access to quality healthcare has historically been limited and continues to be threatened by shrinking resources.

Martha Santana-Chin, Chief Executive Officer of L.A. Care, delivered a heartfelt address acknowledging the need for more doctors in Los Angeles, especially in communities where families struggle to find primary care. According to the California Health Care Foundation, nearly 11.4 million Californians live in federally designated Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas, underscoring the profound impact of L.A. Care’s scholarship initiative.

Santana-Chin stressed that the physician shortage in Los Angeles, exacerbated by recent policy changes and the cap on student loan provisions under H.R. 1, would only worsen. “Los Angeles simply needs more doctors—especially in neighborhoods where families have trouble accessing primary healthcare,” she said. Since 2018, L.A. Care has invested nearly $500,000 per student in the ESN program, empowering future physicians to address these gaps in care.

Assemblymember Mike Gipson, who represents California’s 65th Assembly District, also spoke at the event, passionately urging the scholars to use their education and skills to break down the barriers to healthcare that persist in Los Angeles. “You are the torchbearers of our communities, our families, and our collective future,” Gipson declared. “Our community is counting on you to stand up for the least of these, to heal, and to lead. We need you now more than ever.”

The lack of healthcare access in low-income and minority communities in Los Angeles, especially for Black and Latino families, has been a longstanding issue. It is compounded by funding cuts that threaten the ability of providers to serve these areas. The pressure on providers is increasing, and reimbursement rates are not enough to sustain many of the safety-net clinics that serve these populations.

This was something echoed by Dr. José Torres-Ruiz, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. He emphasized the importance of programs like the ESN scholarship in addressing the healthcare disparities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. “It’s not just about the education, but about the ability to give back,” Torres-Ruiz said. “With the scholarship, these students are given the freedom to serve their communities without the burden of debt hanging over them.”

Among the recipients was Ezenna Onuoha, a future student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Onuoha shared how the scholarship had lightened the financial burden that often deters students from pursuing medicine, particularly those from underserved backgrounds. “This scholarship gives me the freedom to stay focused on my commitment to underserved populations, without compromising due to financial challenges,” Onuoha explained.

Tenisha Janisse, another ESN scholar and future medical student, spoke about her own inspiration for pursuing medicine, which stemmed from her personal health struggles and watching family members experience inadequate care. “I don’t want to see others suffer the way I did,” Janisse said. “I want to give back to the community that raised me.”

Janisse, who was born and raised in Los Angeles and now lives in Long Beach, is committed to staying in the area to serve her community. “If I can match in the community, that’s where I want to stay,” she said. “Los Angeles will always feel like home.”

The ceremony also served as a reminder of the urgent need for more healthcare providers in under-resourced areas, particularly as funding for safety-net services continues to dwindle. Without programs like the ESN scholarship, many students would be forced to seek other career paths due to the high cost of medical education. As the community continues to face rising health disparities, the contributions of scholars like Onuoha and Janisse will be crucial to ensuring that future generations have access to the care they deserve.

L.A. Care’s Elevating the Safety Net program not only provides financial assistance but also serves as a beacon of hope for Angelenos who have long faced barriers to healthcare. The future physicians celebrated at this year’s white coat ceremony are more than just students—they are the community leaders and changemakers who will help shape a healthier future for Los Angeles.

As L.A. Care continues to invest in local talent, it is clear that the scholarship recipients are ready to answer the call to serve. Their journey is just beginning, and with the community’s support, they will be the catalysts for change in the fight for health equity.

L.A. Care Health Plan is the largest publicly operated health plan in the nation, serving more than one in every four Angelenos. As a public entity, L.A. Care is committed to providing quality healthcare for low-income communities across Los Angeles County. For more information, visit www.lacare.org.

 

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