Dr. Yanira Cruz

Dr. Yanira Cruz is the President and CEO of the National Hispanic Council on Aging. She focuses on providing the Latino perspective on public health, older adult and caregiver issues to increase policy-maker and public understanding of the needs impacting vulnerable sectors of our society and to encourage the adoption of programs and policies that equitably serve everyone. To further these efforts, Dr. Cruz serves on the National Senior Citizens Law Center and is a member of the Leaders of Aging Organizations (LAO) collaborative – Eight of the nation’s leading aging-focused organizations have formed this unprecedented partnership to create a better public understanding of older adults’ needs and contributions to society — and subsequently to improve the lives of all people as they age. She is also a founding member of the Diverse Elders Coalition. Recently, Dr. Cruz was named one of the top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. Dr. Cruz is an appointee serving on the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services, which advise the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. She holds adjunct faculty appointment at The George Washington University School of Public Health.