Michelle Bholat

Dr. Michelle Bholat(b. 1958) is an award-winning physician. Born in Los Angeles, at age nine she realized her passion for compassion-oriented medicine after losing her aunt, and not being allowed to visit her in the hospital. She went on to receive her bachelor's degree in biological science from California State University in 1987, her M.D. at the University of California, Irvine, in 1992, and her M.P.H. in health care policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1997. Her work eventually earned her the title of vice chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, making her the first Latina to be appointed to this role. In this position, she actively works to hire physicians from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as collaborate with and trains physicians from Mexico.
Dr. Bholat's work to incorporate compassion and cultural sensitivity into medicine has earned her the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Recognition of Service Award, as well as a fellowship with the National Hispanic Medical Association.