Dr. James Cruz, M.D., Elected New Latinx Physicians of California Board Chair

LPOC is incredibly excited to announce that Dr. James Cruz, M.D., a longtime member of the Board of Directors, has been elected to lead LPOC during a pivotal time of growth within the organization.

Dr. Cruz has more than 20 years of executive health care leadership experience.  Most recently, after serving as Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan's Chief Medical Officer, he joined Gold Coast Health Plan's Chief Medical Officer and LPOC Board Member, Dr. Felix Nunez, as Gold Coast's Senior Medical Director to support key functions in the Health Services, Quality Improvement, Pharmacy, Care Management, and Utilization Management departments.

Throughout his career, Dr. Cruz has been a strong advocate and leader promoting the training of young physicians for practice in California’s medically underserved communities. In 1992, he established California’s first family medicine residency program sponsored by a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Fresno.

Dr. Cruz earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He is one of the first graduates from the Family Medicine residency program at White Memorial Medical Center, in Los Angeles, where he completed both residency training and a Community Medicine Fellowship. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and lives with his wife in San Clemente, CA.

LPOC’s Board of Directors and executive team would like to express their gratitude to LPOC Chair Emeritus, Dr. José Arévalo, M.D., FAAFP, for the immense time, care, and energy that he has put into the organization during his tenure. Dr. Arévalo will remain a member of the board and an active leader within the Latinx Physicians of California.