When you think of an experienced and accomplished neurosurgeon, you wouldn’t imagine an undocumented farm worker. That may change after listening to Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa’s inspirational story. An award-winning brain surgeon, who is working on finding a cure for brain cancer, he is one of the health heroes we profile as part of our year-long series on Latinos and health.

Dr. Q., as his colleagues call him, teaches oncology and neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and runs a laboratory studying brain tumors. But before he started saving lives, he was an undocumented immigrant, working in the fields of California’s Central Valley. He tells it all in his new book “Becoming Dr. Q: My Journey from Migrant Farm Worker to Brain Surgeon.” And he also shares his story in a candid interview with Maria Hinojosa.

Latino USA’s year-long look at Latinos and Health is made possible by funding from Pfizer Helpful Answers®, a family of patient assistance programs for the uninsured and underinsured who need help getting Pfizer medicines.

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