BUILDING ON A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES (AHHE)

In 1988, a group of visionary Hispanic leaders in California organized the Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives (AHHE), a professional membership organization of Latino healthcare executives, to serve as a vehicle for networking, and for advocacy to address the under-representation of Latinos in the educational pipeline, in senior leadership positions, and on boards of trustees in hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Later, in 2001, AHHE’s national governance and administration was formally transferred to the East Coast. In order to continue the founders pioneering work and programs, we assumed the national leadership role including the mandate to increase membership, secure our 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt status (granted in 2002), and secure the financial support from Corporate America to support our mission. In that short period, AHHE has grown to over 250 individual and organizational members in 14 states and has become the voice of Hispanic healthcare executives.

In recent years, Latino business owners and community leaders who have been following our work, have encouraged us to also address Latino small business development in the hospital, pharmaceutical, managed care/insurance and health care industries. Given our existing relationships in the health/medical sector, AHHE convened an open meeting of Latino business owners to explore establishing an industry-specific chamber. As a result of that meeting, and subsequent meetings with Latino owners, and with the approval of AHHE’s Board of Directors, AHHE provided startup funding to establish the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health. This strategic partnership with the newly established National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Health (NHCCH), the country’s first and only chamber of commerce concentrating on the health industries is a significant milestone in Latino business development. The NHCCH is eager to serve as your voice as we address contract and procurement opportunities in the non-profit, for-profit, and corporate sectors, as well as within government agencies.