MCN is committed to developing and supporting clinical leaders in migrant health. Clinical leaders serve as agents of change in their local community or on a national stage. The work they do creates better quality services for patients.

Unsung Heroes

Moses Santos 2008 Unsung Hero

In 1990, the Migrant Clinicians Network established its Annual Unsung Hero Award as a way to honor one of the unrecognized clinicians in the field of migrant health. The Award winner receives an expense paid trip to the National Farmworker Health Conference.

Nominees for the Unsung Hero Award are distinguished by their demonstrated dedication to migrant health, participation in a variety of areas in migrant health care delivery, innovation in service delivery and prevention strategies, clinical leadership, and lack of previous recognition for their contributions to migrant health.

In 2008, The Migrant Clinician's Network honored Moses Santos

This years Winner is Moses Santos from Fellsmere, Florida.  In nominating Mr. Santos, Toni Remor said “I would like to nominate Moses because I worked with him from 1996 - 2004 and knew him to be an exemplary advocate for not only migrant farmworkers but all patients who were in need of his services.  Moses volunteered his personal time on many occasions to help the migrants living and working in and around Fellsmere, Florida, a large agricultural community.  He offered his own time to unload food items, clothing, furniture, etc. from semi trucks on weekends in order to receive donations of the same items to deliver to needy families in Fellsmere and its surrounding communities. 

The migrant farmworkers in Fellsmere have come to know and trust Moses over the years since the clinic opened in the early 1990's.  Many, who were undocumented, knew they could rely on Moses to help them in any way he could.  Moses Santos goes above and beyond his job duties to ensure "his" families have the basic requirements of food, shelter and clothing.  He is out and about meeting people from various agencies and organizations throughout the community always making valuable contacts and referrals for the migrant farmworkers.  When needed, Moses would drive his patients 30-35 miles away to ensure his patients would get to their specialist appointments.  If need be, he would have his staff pick up patients and bring them to a nearby grocery store to buy groceries or pick up their prescriptions.  

I would like to see Moses Santos receive this award because there is no one person that I know deserves it more for his dedication to and love for the migrant farmworkers in Fellsmere, Florida.”

Unsung Hero Award winners and nominees are distinguished by their demonstrated dedication to migrant health, participation in areas of migrant health care delivery, innovation in service delivery and prevention strategies, clinical leadership, and lack of previous recognition for their contributions to migrant health. Mr. Santos will receive an all expense paid trip to the National Farmworker Health Conference in San Juan Puerto Rico, May 6 through 8th, 2008

Click here to learn how to nominate your own Unsung Hero.