Dr. Ileana María Ponce-Gonzalez, MD, MPH, is the founder and Executive Director of the Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees (CHWCMR). Established in 2014, CHWCMR became a 501(c)(3) statewide organization in Washington in November 2018.

Dr. Ponce-Gonzalez has an extensive background in public health administration, working with diverse communities across Nicaragua, Chile, Mexico, and the United States. She earned her Medical Doctor degree from the National University of Nicaragua and specialized in Medical Genetics at the University of Santiago de Chile, where she also practiced clinical medicine. Her career includes clinical exchanges in Latin America and involvement in significant research projects in Mexico City.

She later obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, along with a Certificate in Human Rights and Global Health. With more than three decades of experience, she has held key roles in the U.S. Federal Government, contributing to agencies such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Dr. Ponce-Gonzalez is a tireless advocate for health equity, dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable populations.