Mes de la Herencia Hispana

In 1990, Antonia Novello became the first Hispanic person — and first woman as well — to be appointed as Surgeon General, the chief doctor in the United States. As a child, she had a chronic illness that hurt her digestion, causing her great suffering. She never forgot that experience. As surgeon general, Novello especially campaigned for better care for children. She also paid special attention to the problems of alcoholism, smoking, AIDS, and violence. (Courtesy of Scholastic)