Dr. Raquel G. Hernandez

Dr. Raquel G. Hernandez is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include general pediatric and adolescent medicine, health disparities, culturally and linguistically appropriate care as well as pediatric obesity. Dr. Hernandez completed her medical school training, pediatric residency and fellowship in academic general pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During her fellowship she also earned a master of public health degree with an emphasis on nutrition from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. At Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Dr. Hernandez is the director of the Healthy Weight Initiative, a multi-tiered approach including innovative clinical care, research and educational efforts targeting pediatric obesity. In this role, she has been instrumental in advocating for the care of patients with pediatric obesity using evidence-based and culturally appropriate services. Her research currently focuses on health disparities among vulnerable populations with a focus on pediatric obesity. She has identified factors that enhance obesity prevention and treatment efforts within the pediatric primary care setting, with a focus on the role of parental perceptions of child weight, parental participation and modifiable factors in obesity prevention. She additionally leads the JHACH Center for Pediatric Health Equity Research based within the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. The center seeks to develop and implement research efforts focused on promoting health equity for children and families within the organization and community with a focus on community-informed efforts.