History

Debbie Delgado Vega is the founder and President of the Latino Organization for Liver Awareness (L.O.L.A.). Established in 1994, LOLA is the first bilingual/bicultural organization in the nation dedicated to raising awareness and providing prevention, education and treatment referral services to the Latino and American underserved communities who suffer from liver disease and/or are in need of a liver transplant.

A former Wall Street broker's assistant, Delgado-Vega was diagnosed with autoimmune liver disease in 1992 at the age of 29. In attempting to explain liver disease and organ donation to her family and friends, Delgado-Vega searched for Spanish-language information that could help to answer some of their questions. At that time, those materials did not exist. Recognizing what this language difference meant in terms of communicating essential information about the disease to a growing segment of the American public, Delgado-Vega embarked upon a campaign to enlist legislators, health professionals and community leaders in helping to correct the problem and make a difference.

It was in 1994, while waiting for a life-saving liver transplant, that Delgado-Vega founded L.O.L.A. As the organization's executive director, Delgado-Vega is L.O.L.A.'s primary spokesperson and advocate. She directs, monitors and spearheads the activities, programs and projects designed to achieve L.O.L.A.'s objectives. Delgado-Vega also plays a leading role in initiating partnerships and collaborations with other national, regional and local organizations engaged in liver disease, organ donation and public health education campaigns.

Delgado-Vega received her first liver transplant in 1995, and in 2005 after almost losing her battle with liver disease once again, Ms Vega, became one of the lucky few second liver transplant recipients. With newfound energy and renewed strength, she continues to work aggressively to lead the LOLA board and staff in educating the public and advocating for national, state and local legislation. Over the past twelve years, L.O.L.A. has successfully reached out to nearly 13 million people in 30 states through media, its Hepatitis C Virus campaign, print materials, public service announcements, radio, public outreach prevention/education projects and information referral services. In addition, L.O.L.A. has assisted 50,000 Latinos, who might otherwise have died, with bilingual information, services and programs.

Delgado-Vega is involved in a number of organizations with missions that are closely tied to those of L.O.L.A. She is a member of the New York State Department of Health, Extended Liver Criteria Committee; the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable; the New York Organ Donor Network; National Coalition on Organ Donation and the Hispanic Federation.