January 12 Spotlight Hero

Ruth Vega, Program Director at the American-Italian Cancer Foundation

Originally from Ecuador, Ruth immigrated to the United States with her family as a young child. Growing up in New York City, she attended public schools and later earned a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management. With over 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, Ruth is deeply committed to ensuring equitable access to essential health services, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.

Her passion for health equity stems from her experiences witnessing the challenges immigrants face when navigating the healthcare system. As a bilingual community member, Ruth was often called upon by family, friends, and even strangers at health centers to serve as a translator. These experiences gave her a firsthand view of the adverse health outcomes suffered by uninsured individuals, including delayed preventive care and late-stage diagnoses. These encounters solidified her resolve to make a meaningful contribution to health equity.

In her current role as Director of the Mobile, No-Cost Breast Cancer Screening Program, Ruth leads a dedicated team that brings life-saving services directly to underserved communities. Through the Mammogram Bus initiative, they provide vital breast cancer screenings to individuals in areas with the greatest healthcare needs. The program also connects uninsured patients with additional cancer screening services and offers breast health education and patient navigation support, empowering individuals to make informed healthcare decisions.

For more information about
our organization, contact us at
info@2x4foundation.org

For more information
about our organization,
contact us at
info@2x4foundation.org