2024 Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Valery C. Vilchez Parra, MD

Valery C. Vilchez Parra, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, has made significant contributions to academic medicine in the areas of education, research and clinical care. She is also a passionate advocate for the Latino physicians’ community as the co-founder of the Latino Physician Outreach Group at UCI.

Vilchez Parra was born in Venezuela and was the graduating valedictorian of her medical school class at Universidad Del Zulia. After completing her residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, she came to UC Irvine for a colon and rectal surgery fellowship and then remained as faculty. In her current role, she is an active advisor and educator for students and residents, serving as an advisor of the ZotUnity Vulcan House for medical students and winning the 2024 “Golden Scalpel” award from the Department of Surgery, which honors excellence in teaching.

She is also a faculty mentor in the Patient and Community Engagement (PACE) course and a frequent mentor and contributor to the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). As a researcher and scholar, Vilchez Parra has published 28 peer-reviewed publications and three book chapters, complementing this work with national and international symposium presentations in the field of colorectal surgery.

Reflecting on her career, she stated, “My parents, who are my pillars, mentors and lifelong friends taught me the importance of family ties, community and pride of being Latin American. We have faith, loyalty and passion, and we apply those traits to everything we do personally and professionally. Coming to the United States to purse my career in surgery and having the opportunity to serve within my Hispanic community has been a blessing and an honor.” 

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