L.A. Care Chief of Communications and Community Relations among the Nominees to Become Hyundai’s Los Nuevos Héroes (New Heroes) Honoree

Doctors and nurses on the frontlines in the COVID-19 health care crisis are rightfully being praised as heroes during this pandemic, but there are many unsung heroes in the health care industry who are making a difference by helping communities in need. Hyundai is teaming with Univision to recognize some of these unsung heroes with the Los Nuevos Héroes (New Heroes) Award. Francisco Oaxaca, the Chief of Communications and Community Relations at L.A. Care Health Plan, is among five people working in health care in Los Angeles who have been nominated for the award.

Oaxaca, who has been at L.A. Care for six years, has been leading several community support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. He manages seven community-based resource centers, which have been shuttered through much of the pandemic. But, for Oaxaca, it simply meant using the staff in innovative ways.

Throughout the pandemic, resource center staff have coordinated drive through Food Pantry and Back to School events to help families who are struggling to make ends meet during this health crisis. Under his leadership, the health plan has committed nearly $180,000 for more than 30 food pantries, feeding more than 14,000 families. More than 7,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed at seven Back to School events.

Resource center staff also helped with calls to high-risk members. While the calls were wellness checks, making sure that members were sticking to their care plans and filling prescriptions, they also were designed to determine if the members required help with other needs, like food. Using the L.A. Care Community Link search tool, staff members were able to connect members with much-needed resources.

Oaxaca also supported the launch of on-demand virtual programing content, so resource center guests can still enjoy free exercise, cooking and other classes from the safety of their own homes.

Univision is profiling the five Nuevos Héroes nominees this week during their 6 p.m. newscast on KMEX-Channel 34. Oaxaca’s profile with air Tuesday, September 29. Next week, viewers will vote on their favorite new hero.