Title: Health Equity Urban and Regional Planner
Organization: Riverside University Health System-Public Health
Location: Riverside, California, U.S.

Miguel Angel Vazquez, AICP, currently serves as the Health Equity Urban and Regional Planner for the Riverside University Health System-Public Health (RUHS-PH) in Southern California. He is a visionary leader in the field of community development and planning, renowned for his exceptional ability to bring together diverse stakeholders and foster collaborative solutions to complex challenges. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has provided professional planning and community development services to the private, public, and military sectors. Miguel Angel is one of the first planners hired by a public health department in the nation. His role at RUHS-PH is to strengthen the integration of planning and health through collaboration with non-traditional partners. As an active member of the American Planning Association (APA) and its affiliate groups, Miguel Angel has played a vital role in advancing health equity planning and supporting planners across the country. He is the founder of the Planning for Health Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (PHEAL) project and more recently he formed the APA Health Equity Interest Group. His dedication to the APA and its mission has been recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious 2018 APA President’s Award and the 2020 APA California Distinguished Contribution Award. Most recently, Miguel Angel was awarded the 2021 Dale Prize, a testament to his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the planning profession. Miguel Angel is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning. He is also a fellow of the California Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health. Born and raised in Mexico City, Miguel Angel brings a unique perspective to his work and is fluent in English and Spanish. He resides in Riverside, California, with his wife and sons. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures, and spending time with his family.