Lilia Cervantes, M.D.

A Denver native, Dr. Cervantes was born at Denver Health and grew up in Denver’s Westwood and Valverde neighborhoods. Dr. Cervantes’ lived experience and long-standing, equity-driven career makes her a critical leader on the forefront of community- and systems-level change. Dr. Cervantes is the Director of Immigrant Health and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Cervantes completed her medical degree and internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and worked at Denver Health, providing care as a hospitalist for 14 years. Her life’s work centers on addressing structural racism, eliminating unnecessary and systemically-caused health barriers, and advocating for Coloradans who experience the greatest needs. Dr. Cervantes is recognized for spearheading the change to a Medicaid payment rule so uninsured individuals with kidney failure can access live-saving maintenance dialysis. This effort came after the passing of her patient, who was ineligible for care due to her immigration status. Dr. Cervantes describes this experience as her sentinel event, in which she realized she could use her lens and power as a Latina physician to engage in advocacy and health policy development. Following this defining experience, Dr. Cervantes’ work has focused on eliminating structural racism in kidney health disparities and on increasing diversity the healthcare workforce. Dr. Cervantes has received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2020 Clinical Faculty Scholars Program and 2014 Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Grant), the Doris Duke Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health to conduct community-engaged mixed methods and clinical trials to reduce health disparities faced by Latinx/a/o individuals. Dr. Cervantes has also developed pre-health pipeline programs for high school and college youth interested in health careers. Dr. Cervantes’ passion to reduce health disparities and increase diversity in the healthcare workforce in Colorado have garnered her numerous accolades, including the 2017 Unsung Heroine Award (Latina First Foundation), 2018 Health Equity Champion Award (Center for Health Progress), 2019 Florence Rena Sabin Award (University of Colorado School of Medicine), 2019 Outstanding Service to the Community (Denver Health), and the 2021 Dr. Virgilio Licona Award (Colorado Health Foundation). Dr. Cervantes has been invited to speak at over 80 events and has been interviewed on health disparities research by NPR and CNN. Dr. Cervantes currently serves on the boards for the Public Benefits Corporation of Connect for Health Colorado, Vuela for Health, Center for Health Progress, and the National Kidney Foundation.