Born and raised in Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan, Raquel Vasquez, PA-C, serves as the Lead Physician Assistant in Otolaryngology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Care Foundation, where she has delivered clinical care and operational leadership since 2006. In addition to treating pediatric and adult patients with complex ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions and assisting in ENT surgeries, Raquel collaborates closely with lead physicians and operations teams to develop and implement strategies that enhance healthcare access and patient experience.

“A key experience that shaped my career was being part of an ENT department that began with just one physician, one physician assistant—myself—and three staff members, and growing it into a team of 17 physicians, eight PAs, and over 35 staff members,” Raquel shared. “Now, as part of the leadership team, I work to ensure our department continues to successfully operate and evolve.”

Raquel holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Western University of Health Sciences. Beyond her clinical leadership, she is committed to humanitarian service, regularly volunteering for local and international medical missions to provide care to underserved populations.

Raquel is entering the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Executive Master of Public Health (EMPH) program in Health Policy and Management as part of the Class of 2028. She chose UCLA to deepen her expertise in health policy and strengthen her executive decision-making capabilities. Looking forward, Raquel plans to continue her leadership at Cedars-Sinai, leveraging her EMPH training to expand patient healthcare resources and drive organizational initiatives that improve care access for all communities.

“My primary interest within public health is health equity,” she said. “All humans deserve access to medical care no matter race, creed, gender, sex, citizenship, and economic status. Society should not be concerned about how are they going to pay a medical bill; instead they should focus on how they are going to heal from their ailments.”