ABPM diplomate Maria Carmenza Mejia, MD, MPH, FACPM, FASAM, has spent her career as a preventive medicine physician serving communities facing many barriers to health care and addiction services.

In recognition of her efforts, the National Hispanic Medical Association presented her with the Unsung Hero Award at its 2025 conference. This award honors physicians whose work inspires others but often goes unnoticed. Certified by ABPM in both Public Health and General Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine, Dr. Mejia is a Professor in the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at the Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

In an enlightening conversation, Dr. Mejia provides a glimpse into the work of a preventive medicine physician.

First of all, congratulations on receiving the Unsung Hero Award from the National Hispanic Medical Association! What does this recognition mean to you?

Thank you. This award is incredibly meaningful because it shines a light on the work that often happens quietly, in partnership with communities that are too often overlooked. It honors the resilience of those we serve and reaffirms the importance of culturally rooted, equity-driven healthcare.

What led you to a career in medicine?

I always knew I wanted to be a physician. Growing up in Colombia, I spent much of my childhood helping my father in his office and accompanying him on visits. He cared for patients from all walks of life, and I saw that regardless of their background, each person came with vulnerability and deserved to be treated with dignity. Those early experiences gave me a deep understanding of medicine as both a science and a service. I went on to become a physician in Colombia, and after migrating to the U.S., that commitment only grew stronger as I witnessed similar barriers to care in underserved communities here.

What was your journey to the specialty of Public Health & General Preventive Medicine and the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine?

After moving to the U.S., I completed a Master of Public Health at University of Florida, which solidified my interest in prevention, equity, and population health. While working as a researcher at Vanderbilt, I came across the specialty of Preventive Medicine for the first time. I hadn’t been aware it existed, but it immediately resonated with me because it integrated clinical care with public health and systems-based thinking. I went on to complete residency training in Preventive Medicine at Meharry Medical College and then joined Baylor College of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

While at Baylor, one of my colleagues was struggling to find support to maintain clinical services at Santa Maria Hostel, a community partner serving women with substance use disorders. The population they served, marginalized, often overlooked, and in critical need of care, deeply resonated with me. I stepped in to help and soon realized how significant the gaps were in addiction care. Working at Santa Maria shaped my approach to trauma-informed, compassionate care and deepened my understanding of how substance use is intertwined with trauma and social determinants of health. That experience led me to pursue the practice pathway to become board-certified in Addiction Medicine.

What first inspired your commitment to address health disparities?

My commitment is shaped by my lived experience as a woman, an immigrant, and a member of an underrepresented group in medicine. I began my career working in the lab and continue to engage in translational research, but I quickly realized that the most urgent challenges in health are not just scientific, they are also contextual. As I spent more time with patients and communities, I saw how factors like language access, health literacy, economic stress, and gaps in preventive care profoundly affect outcomes. These patterns are especially clear in the underserved populations I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’ve come to believe that providing care is only part of our responsibility. We must also engage in efforts to improve the systems that shape health, through research, education, and partnerships grounded in trust and shared purpose.

From your experience, what are some of the most persistent barriers to healthcare in the populations you serve? How have you addressed those barriers?

In many of the communities I’ve served, persistent barriers to healthcare include limited access to preventive services, difficulty navigating complex health systems, and gaps in continuity of care. Health literacy plays a central role, not only among patients, but also among providers who may not always feel equipped to communicate complex information clearly or tailor care to individual needs. Other challenges, such as stigma related to behavioral health or substance use, can further limit engagement with care.

To address these barriers, I have focused on strategies that strengthen communication and foster trust. This includes developing patient-facing tools designed for varying levels of literacy, providing training and support for providers on shared decision-making and culturally responsive care, and integrating community health workers into care teams to enhance outreach and navigation. By combining these approaches, we can help ensure that preventive services are both accessible and meaningful for the populations who stand to benefit most.

Can you share a specific example of a program or intervention you’ve been involved in that successfully reduced disparities in care or access?

One example I’m particularly proud of is a lung cancer screening and tobacco cessation initiative that I helped lead while serving as Co-Program Director at Harris Health System, one of the largest safety-net systems in the country. We recognized early on that many eligible patients, especially those from low-income or limited English proficiency backgrounds, were not being reached by traditional screening programs. To address this, we implemented a multi-level strategy that included provider training in shared decision-making, culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials, and a patient navigation model led by trained health educators.

We also piloted a low-literacy patient decision aid, adapted for Spanish-speaking populations, and streamlined clinic workflows to make shared decision-making feasible within busy primary care settings.

As a result, we were able to improve screening engagement among underserved groups and strengthen referrals to tobacco cessation services. This initiative highlighted how thoughtfully designed systems grounded in prevention, patient education, and provider support can make a meaningful difference in reducing disparities and promoting early detection.

What is your typical workday like?

For almost a decade, I practiced clinically as a Preventive and Addiction Medicine physician, and that experience has continued to ground my work. Staying connected to patients helped me appreciate the complexities of care delivery and the importance of aligning public health efforts with the realities of everyday life.

In my current role, I am not engaged in direct clinical care, but I am actively leading efforts to develop and implement addiction services within academic and community settings. Much of my time is dedicated to building community partnerships, working with cross-sector collaborators, and designing programs that respond to local needs. I also lead grant-funded initiatives, mentor medical students and junior faculty, and support research focused on prevention, behavioral health, and population health.

My days often include writing proposals and manuscripts, participating in collaborative planning meetings, and working closely with colleagues in medicine, social work, computer science, public health, and community-based organizations. Every day looks a little different, but the common thread is building systems and strategies that can support healthier communities in a sustainable and equitable way.

What would you most like other physicians to know about Public Health and General Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine?

Both Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine offer powerful tools to understand and address the upstream factors that influence health across the lifespan. These specialties give physicians a systems-level perspective that looks beyond individual symptoms to the broader conditions shaping health outcomes, including environmental, behavioral, and structural influences.

I often share with colleagues that these fields are not separate from clinical medicine. Instead, they complement and enhance it. They focus on root causes, early intervention, and treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. Preventive and Addiction Medicine help us think critically about population needs, health equity, and long-term outcomes. In Addiction Medicine in particular, the ability to combine clinical care with public health principles is essential to addressing a complex and evolving public health crisis.

I encourage more physicians to explore these pathways, not only for the knowledge and skillset they offer, but also for the opportunity to lead transformative work that improves both individual and community health.

What is the value of board certification to you?

Board certification represents a commitment to continuous learning, professional integrity, and accountability to the patients and communities we serve. For me, being board-certified in both [Public Health and General] Preventive Medicine and Addiction Medicine reinforces the importance of bridging clinical care with public health principles. It provides a foundation for evidence-based decision-making and signals to colleagues, trainees, and institutions that I hold myself to a nationally recognized standard of excellence.

Are there any myths you want to dispel about Public Health and/or Addiction Medicine?

Yes. A common myth is that public health is separate from clinical care, or that it’s just about data and surveillance. In reality, public health is about shaping the environments and systems where health can happen. It provides the foundation for prevention, early intervention, and care that addresses the full context of people’s lives.

Similarly, addiction is often misunderstood as a moral failing rather than what it truly is—a chronic, treatable condition. Like diabetes or hypertension, substance use disorders require comprehensive, evidence-based care, as well as compassion and long-term support. Unfortunately, stigma continues to interfere with access to treatment and quality care.

Another misconception is that prevention is passive or less urgent than treatment. In truth, prevention is proactive and deeply impactful. These specialties are not only scientifically rigorous but also essential to advancing health equity, improving outcomes, and supporting sustainable change at both individual and population levels.

What books are you reading now? Anything you’d recommend for those interested in preventive medicine?

I recently revisited The Health Gap by Michael Marmot, which offers a compelling look at how inequality drives health outcomes and why addressing social determinants is critical to prevention.

Another book I often recommend is Dopesick by Beth Macy. It’s a powerful narrative about the opioid crisis in America that humanizes the epidemic while also exploring its policy and healthcare dimensions. Both books offer important insights for anyone working in prevention, addiction, or population health.

Anything you’d like to share with the ABPM community that I haven’t asked about?

I am truly grateful to be part of the ABPM community. Preventive and Addiction Medicine have shaped how I approach every aspect of my work, from program development to mentoring and research. These fields have helped me stay focused on what really matters: improving care, expanding access, and supporting long-term health at both the individual and population levels.

I also want to highlight the importance of mentorship and visibility. Throughout my career, I have seen how meaningful it can be for early-career professionals to find support and see examples of diverse leadership in these specialties. I hope we continue building inclusive pathways into preventive medicine and encouraging the next generation of leaders in public health and addiction medicine.