UCLA AAP Alumni Spotlight - Dr. Efrain Talamantes '02, M.D. '08, M.S. '14

Class of 2002 – B.S., Psychobiology, UCLA

Class of 2007 – M.B.A., Emory University, Goizueta School of Business, Atlanta, GA

Class of 2008 – M.D., David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

Class of 2014 – M.S. in Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA

Q&A WITH DR. TALAMANTES

Can you tell us about your current professional role, the company you're with, and the industry you're part of?

serve as the Chief Operations Officer at AltaMed Health Services. AltaMed is the nation’s largest federally qualified health center (FQHC), with over 60 sites throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, where we serve over half a million patients annually. Our mission is to eliminate disparities in healthcare access and outcomes by providing quality health and human services through an integrated world-class delivery system for Latino, multi-ethnic, and underserved communities throughout Southern California. This organization's mission aligns with my purpose and core values as a Latino physician leader who grew up locally in Norwalk and is a first-generation college graduate from a mixed-status family.

What does AAP mean to you? What impact has it had on you personally or professionally?

I am proud to have participated in AAP while at UCLA. Like many of my peers, I am grateful for the services AAP offers and the relationships built during my participation. AAP served as a lifeline and offered services that positively impacted my experience as an undergraduate student. By participating in AAP, I was able to meet like-minded individuals who share similar purposes in serving historically disinvested communities.

How has AAP impacted your personal and professional development and success? Any specific ways you’ve seen AAP’s influence in your career or personal growth?

As an undergraduate, AAP gave me the foundation to excel at UCLA. Like many first-generation college students from low-income and diverse backgrounds, I struggled to adjust to the UC system and the rigor of UCLA. AAP’s peer mentorship, tutoring, counseling services, and resources helped me bridge the gap and maximize my potential. As the first physician in my family, I learned the importance of academic excellence through AAP and used what I learned through AAP to propel me throughout my academic journey.

How have you stayed connected to AAP? Do you participate in events, mentorship, or any other initiatives that keep you engaged with the AAP community?

Yes, I continue to engage with AAP leadership and alumni leaders to ensure we are able to support the next generation of leaders graduating from UCLA and participating in AAP. I firmly believe in the power of mentorship and support in various methods through networking with current students, offering professional development opportunities, and supporting the AAP scholarship fund as a donor. Furthermore, at AltaMed, we regularly offer internship and summer program opportunities for pre-health students and offer these opportunities to UCLA students and alumni.

For more information regarding these opportunities, students can contact:
altamedsummerprogram@altamed.org
Erick Leyva Bedolla – elbedolla@altamed.org