Minerva Kelada, MD, FAAFP, FAAEP, is a highly accomplished family physician with a career defined by dedication and innovation in healthcare. After completing medical school, she pursued a unique fifth pathway program through UCLA, followed by residencies in anatomical pathology at UCLA and in general practice in Alabama, USA.

Dr. Kelada’s leadership in healthcare became evident when she served as the medical director for the emergency room in Imperial County. She later founded an urgent care clinic along the Mexico–USA border, providing essential services to underserved patients for over three decades.

Her work has spanned across various medical disciplines, including active involvement in surgeries. Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Kelada contributed as a consultant for the California Medical Board for 13 years and as an adjunct professor at UCSD for 25 years.

Currently serving as Chief Medical Officer of the Imperial County Physicians Medical Group, Dr. Kelada continues to shape healthcare delivery. In recent years, her research has centered on behavioral health and infectious diseases, reflecting her ongoing commitment to advancing medicine and improving patient outcomes.