Dr. Juan Carlos Jimenez, a vascular surgeon and assistant dean for faculty initiatives at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) medical school, carries a legacy of service shaped by his family’s immigrant journey and his father’s dedication to community care.
Dr. Jimenez's parents were first-generation immigrants to the United States; his mother is from El Salvador, and his father is from Honduras. While his mother cared for the family at home, his father, a pediatrician, practiced medicine for more than 30 years in the Sylmar-Sun Valley area of California, a predominantly Latino, Spanish-speaking and underserved community.
"My father treated several generations of patients," Dr. Jimenez said. "It’s something I have always admired about him."
He credits his father with instilling in him the importance of delivering medical care with cultural sensitivity. "It’s important to hear life-changing medical information in your own language and that it be delivered with cultural understanding. That’s one of the main tenets I try to practice now," he said.
He firmly believes that the community needs more physicians to serve populations with shared cultural and linguistic backgrounds. His commitment to enhancing community is reflected in his role as vice chair for inclusive excellence at UCLA, where he promotes what he calls "inclusive excellence" in surgery.
"For me, inclusive excellence means delivering outstanding vascular care to all patients, regardless of social situation," he said. "It also means improving the work environment for all surgeons and making everyone feel welcome, retaining diverse talent."
Dr. Jimenez has been a vascular surgeon for over 20 years, and during this time, he has learned valuable lessons about meeting his patients on what they may consider "the worst day of their lives." When a patient arrives for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, he recognizes that he is the person they trust to help them.
"I’m incredibly humbled to be in the position to take on those challenges and responsibilities," he said. "That’s what drove me into vascular surgery."
His mentors have played a pivotal role in shaping his career, including Drs. Roy Fujitani, Peter Lawrence, Samuel Eric Wilson, Wesley Moore and many others who have supported him throughout his journey as a vascular surgeon.
Dr. Jimenez continues to expand access to vascular care in marginalized communities through an ongoing, evolving project, collaborating with Drs. Vincent Rowe and Leanne O’Banion to deliver care to South Los Angeles through Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, a region he describes as a "vascular desert" due to limited resources.
"We’ve already laid down the foundation, and the work is underway," he said.
He views leadership as a form of service to others; a philosophy reinforced by earning his MBA. "True leadership is about elevating those around you," he said. "Managing problems is the central principle of leadership."
Dr. Jimenez remarked that the challenges of being a surgeon don’t end in the operating room. For him, he brings those challenges home, mulling over the events of the day before going to bed, and comes up with a plan to deal with them every morning. Above all, he emphasizes humility in patient care. "Never underestimate the anxiety or pain a patient may be experiencing," he advised. "It’s not about us; it’s about the patient."
He also supports the SVS Foundation’s mission to improve the lived experience of vascular surgeons from all backgrounds. "The SVS provides education, mentorship, and advocacy," he said. "It’s essential for surgeons of all backgrounds to work with and support the SVS Foundation."
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, Dr. Jimenez reminds us that the power of heritage lies not only in where we come from, but in how we choose to serve. Through his work, Dr. Jimenez honors his roots while paving the way for future generations of diverse physicians. The Voices of Vascular campaign celebrates these stories that inspire, uplift and transform medicine: one patient, one community and one legacy at a time.
When you donate to the SVS Foundation, you support Voices of Vascular's important work in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more and make your gift today.