Irubiel Barbosa, DDS

Dr. Irubiel Barbosa received his DDS degree from the National University of Mexico (UNAM) and did a fellowship of prosthodontics in Japan for two years.  In 1982, the Japanese government granted him a scholarship to study prosthodontics for two years. He worked for five years in the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the Cranial/Facial Department, in the dental section working with a team of plastic surgeons, orthopedic, maxillofacial, orthodontics, pedodontics, speech therapy, etc., doing treatment on very compromised patients. He is the founder and first President of the Hispanic Dental Association Los Angeles Professional Chapter. Dr. Barbosa is very proud to be a member of the HDA. He feels the Association's mission coincides with his ideals and involvement related to educational and communitarian issues related to dental health. As a local leader, he is developing a plan to increase the access of Hispanic students' enrollment in dental schools in combination with California Dental University, USC, UCLA, AND LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY. Dr. Barbosa gives conferences in local elementary schools and colleges to motivate the students to get into the dental field. The local HDA chapter is very active with the sponsorship of the health fair in combination with the Mexican Council. He participates as a volunteer and organizes free/low-cost dental screening for children at the Children Dental Center and his private dental office. He has been involved with the Bi-national Healthcare Fair Mexico and USA. Dr. Barbosa also volunteers at the USC Dental School for the "Give Kid's a Smile" program. In his office, he gives no cost dental treatment to 55 students from the community elementary school. He advocates efforts for Hispanic dentists to prepare for the Restorative Exam (bench) and also for the State Board Exam, free of charge. He is the President of Latinos for Dental Careers. Dr. Barbosa works hard to increase the local chapter and has worked on various campaigns and partnered with other groups in organized dentistry when necessary to represent dentists in general and to promote oral health. Dr. Barbosa is hopeful the HDA of Los Angeles will continue to promote and cultivate a collaboration of productive relationships with other ethnic associations to represent the needs of dentists in general. He is currently a HDA Board of Trustee and feels it is truly an honor to be nominated for another term.