“I’m the first doctor in my family—and on my dad’s side alone, there are 117 of us. My goal is not to be the last.”
Benjamin Blanco, M.D., one of the New Mexico HOSA State Officer coaches, former Vice President of Programming of the Latino Medical Student Association, and proud Mexican American, is not only positively impacting culturally compassionate care, but also lifting others as he climbs.
Raised in the rural town of Clovis, New Mexico, Blanco’s path to medicine was shaped by early responsibilities in his family’s grocery store. While most children his age were out on the playground, he was running around la tienda. He eventually became an employee and manager, getting to know the community on a deeper level.
“As I grew up, I built a lot of interpersonal skills [at the grocery store]. It shaped my work ethic and appreciation for service to others,” Blanco said.
His upbringing also underscored the stark realities of rural healthcare challenges and the language barriers his community faced in accessing care. As a child, Blanco often accompanied his mother to medical appointments to serve as her interpreter, despite Clovis’ nearly 50 percent Hispanic and Latino population.
“[We would] go out to the lobby and almost all the chairs were filled — always,” Blanco said. “She went to so many practices and still couldn’t communicate her concerns,” he recalled.
These experiences left a lasting impression and sparked his commitment to ensuring culturally compassionate care. Blanco pursued a double major in Biochemistry and Spanish, with a concentration in medical Spanish. Before even completing his certification, he was regularly called upon to assist Spanish-speaking patients during his clinical experiences.
“Quality compassionate care happens when the provider and the patient speak the same language. It changes everything,” Blanco said.
While in college, Blanco’s journey with HOSA–Future Health Professionals began. His former classmate and fellow FCCLA alum encouraged him to co-found a post-secondary/collegiate HOSA chapter. Despite being a first-year member, he helped launch a 20-member chapter while simultaneously serving as a state officer coordinator.
“HOSA at the college level is rare, and people already have their paths set. But we found our niche,” he explained.
HOSA gave Blanco early opportunities to lead, organize conferences, and mentor others—skills he would later draw upon in national leadership with the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) as the Vice President of Programming during his third and fourth year of medical school.
The position, which included organizing national conferences and all external events, helped him create supportive spaces for underrepresented students in medicine across the country. “It was the hardest and best thing I’ve done—for my career and my life,” Blanco said.
Now preparing to begin his General Surgery residency at Harbor-UCLA, Blanco brings with him not just academic rigor but a commitment to advocacy and mentorship. As one of HOSA’s state officer coaches, he’s helped students gain admission into prestigious institutions and programs, including the same BA/MD program that launched his own career.
“Mentoring isn’t just about giving advice—it’s about understanding who they are, what motivates them, and how they want to be supported,” Blanco said.
To aspiring health professionals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, Blanco offers this advice: “Medicine is about what you know, but more often it’s also about who you know. Build a network. Find mentors. And never let imposter syndrome make you forget that you belong.”
With his white coat newly earned and his next chapter ahead, Blanco is focused on being not just a skilled surgeon but, above all, a kind and compassionate leader. “I’m using the same skills I’ve always had—just being a nice person. That means everything to the people we serve.”
If you’re a former member inspired to give back and grow with like-minded professionals like Dr. Blanco, join HOSA’s Alumni Chapter at hosa.org/alumni.
