Mental Health Expert Dr. Deborah Villanueva Honored for Advancing Health Equity

Mental health expert Dr. Deborah Villanueva has been named the 2025 RISE Health Care Hero, recognizing her extensive work supporting trauma survivors and advancing health equity for underserved communities. Selected from over 60 nominations, Dr. Villanueva was honored for her innovative approaches to mental health care that address complex systemic challenges.

With more than two decades of experience, Dr. Villanueva has pioneered critical interventions for vulnerable populations, particularly focusing on children, youth, and families impacted by trauma. Her work specifically targets survivors of trafficking, developing specialized mental health care approaches that consider unique cultural, developmental, and emotional needs.

A clinical supervisor at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Dr. Villanueva has developed transformative programs that train mental health professionals and community leaders in delivering trauma-informed, culturally competent care. Her initiatives have been particularly impactful for Latino, Hispanic, and immigrant communities, addressing critical barriers such as language differences and mental health stigma.

By challenging existing care models and creating more inclusive treatment frameworks, Dr. Villanueva has significantly improved mental health resource accessibility for marginalized populations. Her approach goes beyond individual interventions, seeking to reshape systemic approaches to healthcare equity.

The RISE Health Care Hero Award highlights Dr. Villanueva's exceptional commitment to creating comprehensive, compassionate healthcare solutions that recognize and respect diverse lived experiences. Her work demonstrates how targeted, culturally sensitive interventions can fundamentally transform healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities.