WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
The AIgorythm project
Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Elmer Huerta is one of the most respected figures in public health and medical communication in Latin America. An oncologist and prevention expert, he has become a reference in disseminating reliable medical information, particularly during public health crises. His remarkable career as a preventive health specialist and his commitment to educating the public about health, especially through media platforms, have had a significant impact, not only in the United States and Peru but across Latin America.
Elmer Huerta was born in Lima, Peru, where he grew up and studied before entering the field of medicine. He attended the National University of San Marcos, where he specialized in oncology. Early in his career, Huerta showed a strong interest in public health, recognizing that education and prevention were key to improving the quality of life in populations.
After completing his studies in Peru, Huerta pursued further education in the United States. He completed his residency in internal medicine and specialized in oncology, then earned a Master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the field. This multidisciplinary education reinforced his vision that disease prevention should be at the center of public health efforts.
Throughout his career, Elmer Huerta has worked tirelessly to promote the importance of disease prevention, particularly in cancer. He directed the Cancer Preventorium, a clinic in Washington D.C. focused on early detection and cancer prevention among Latin American communities. This center has provided thousands of people with access to screening and awareness services that would otherwise not have been available, especially to underserved populations.
Huerta believes that disease prevention starts with accessible and effective education. As a result, he has implemented numerous awareness programs to inform the public about health risks and the behaviors needed to prevent them. In addition to his clinical activities, he has worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), sharing his expertise to improve non-communicable disease prevention policies.
What sets Elmer Huerta apart from other health professionals is his use of the media to spread quality medical information. He is one of the pioneers in using media, particularly radio and television, to popularize medicine and educate the public on complex health issues.
Since the 1990s, Huerta has hosted Spanish-language radio programs where he addresses a wide range of health topics, from infectious diseases to cancer, providing preventive advice. His program “Cuidando tu Salud” (Taking Care of Your Health) has become one of the most listened-to among Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and Latin America.
In addition to radio, Elmer Huerta regularly appears on television and in print media. He has served as a medical consultant for CNN en Español, offering his analysis on major health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where he played a crucial role in providing reliable and verified information in a context marked by misinformation.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of health communication, and Elmer Huerta was a key figure during this time. Through his regular appearances on television, radio, and social media, he provided practical advice and accurate information about the pandemic, helping to calm public fears and urging people to follow preventive measures.
He also used his platforms to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and to combat conspiracy theories and misinformation, which were rampant during the crisis. His work was crucial in encouraging many people, especially vulnerable populations, to get vaccinated and follow the recommendations of health authorities.
Throughout his career, Elmer Huerta has placed great emphasis on serving Spanish-speaking communities in both the United States and Latin America. He understands the linguistic and cultural barriers these populations often face when accessing healthcare, and he has dedicated much of his career to bridging these gaps in information and services.
Through his radio programs, articles, and consultations, Huerta has enabled millions of people to better understand health issues and improve their lifestyle habits. His work has also helped build trust between Hispanic communities and the healthcare system, which is often seen as complex and inaccessible.
Due to his outstanding contributions to public health and medical communication, Elmer Huerta has received numerous awards throughout his career. He has been honored by international medical organizations for his work on cancer prevention and health awareness. He is also a member of several prestigious medical associations in both the United States and Peru.
In 2007, he became the first Latino elected president of the American Cancer Society, recognizing his commitment to fighting cancer within Spanish-speaking communities. This role allowed him to further increase the visibility of cancer prevention issues in developing countries and among minorities in the United States.
Elmer Huerta is an iconic figure in preventive medicine and public health communication. Through his work, millions of people have gained access to reliable and accurate health information, saving lives and improving the quality of care in many communities. His commitment to disease prevention and his role as a medical educator make him a pioneer and a model for healthcare professionals worldwide. Huerta continues to demonstrate that modern medicine should not only treat but also educate and prevent.