Dr. Luis Valenzuela

Healthcare Education Project & Long Island Immigrant Alliance

Dr. Luis Valenzuela is employed by the Healthcare Education Project, a unique labor-management alliance between the Greater New York Hospital Association and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.
As the Long Island Region healthcare advocate, Dr. Valenzuelafocuses on building partnerships with individuals, local healthcare providers, and civic, labor and religious leaders across Long Island to secure a better, more efficient and financially sound healthcare delivery system.

As the volunteer executive director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance (LIIA), Dr. Valenzuela collaborates with an alliance of organizations in Nassau and Suffolk counties that are concerned with ensuring that Long Island provides a welcoming environment for immigrants, and invites their involvement in the cultural, socio-economic and political life of their community.
Dr. Valenzuela started his career as a social worker with the Puerto Rican Family Institute.
Later, he moved into the field of child welfare. His experiences, on behalf of families and communities, at the local, state and national level, have cemented his commitment to being an advocate for sound healthcare and immigration policies.
In addition, he has taught undergraduate and graduate students at both Adelphi University’s School of Social Work and at Stony Brook University Medicine School of Social Welfare.

Dr. Valenzuela received his Ph.D from Fordham University, Masters of Social Work degree from Stony Brook University and his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Stony Brook University.He completed addictions training at the South Oaks Hospital Institute of Alcoholism and Addictive Behaviors. Dr. Valenzuela is also a fellow of the CORO Leadership Institute.
He serves on the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission and on the Suffolk County Legislature’s Welfare to Work Commission.

Dr. Valenzuela serves on the boards of several community organizations including the Energeia Leadership Academy Advisory Board; the Long Island Council of Churches; the College of Advisors for Erase Racism; the Long Island Progressive Coalition; AMOS (A Movement In Solidarity) of Jobs With Justice LI; and Community Advocates.