Dr. Margarita Loeza, MD, MPH serves as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions at the Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine. A dedicated physician leader, educator, and advocate for health equity, she is a former Vice President of the Alliance in Mentorship Board and Co-Founder, supporting the mission of MiMentor. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Latinx Physicians of California (LPOC). She is the Latinx Legacy Roundtable Leader and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee.

Dr. Loeza is a first-generation Mexican American and the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She understands firsthand the transformative power of mentorship in advancing educational and professional success. She earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine Residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

A nationally recognized leader in medical education, Dr. Loeza currently serves with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) on several committees and was recently nominated to serve on the National Advisory Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NACMHD), which advises the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) and the NIH on matters related to minority health and the elimination of health disparities.

Throughout her career, Dr. Loeza has championed mentorship and pathway programs for underrepresented students pursuing careers in medicine. She has served as an interviewer for the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Admissions Committee and as a committee member, screener, and interviewer for both the Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine Admissions Committee and the CDU Physician Assistant Program. She has also served as a clinical skills preceptor for medical and physician assistant students from UCLA and CDU.

Committed to service beyond the classroom, Dr. Loeza served as Faculty Advisor for the UCLA Flying Samaritans and continues to volunteer at clinics serving underserved communities in Tijuana, Mexico. Since 2011, she has volunteered at the Homeboy Industries Tattoo Removal Clinic, supporting individuals seeking new opportunities and second chances.

Since 2001, Dr. Loeza has worked and volunteered at Venice Family Clinic, returning to the same clinic where she and her family received care during her childhood. As a Family Physician serving medically underserved populations in West Los Angeles—including homeless, uninsured, and undocumented patients—she has dedicated her career to advancing health equity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as Chief Medical Information Officer and led the implementation of telehealth services, expanding access to care for vulnerable communities.

For more than two decades, Dr. Loeza has mentored medical students, residents, and aspiring physicians. Her professional mission is rooted in reducing health disparities, expanding educational opportunities, and developing the next generation of diverse physician leaders committed to serving underserved communities.