Health, Love, and Happiness

Eddie is a Critical Care PA and National Medical Fellowship Scholar from the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC). He received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Kinesiology at California State University, San Bernardino where he graduated with both departmental and university honors. During his time at CSUSB, he participated and developed research in the fields of kinesiology and biology, held officer positions of various clubs, and co-founded the first Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Conference at CSUSB.

Soon after, Eddie worked for Loma Linda University where he developed exercise programs for children and young adults with developmental delay, Autism, Down syndrome, and Epilepsy. In the summer of 2012, Eddie completed an internship with his brother, Anthony Menacho, at the University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine, where he conducted research and community health projects within the underserved areas of Riverside and San Bernardino. Throughout his Junior year in college, Eddie would complete an internship for the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Foundation, where he worked on grants that would help improve access to care for underserved areas as well as fund new medical programs in the Inland Empire.In the summer of 2013, upon completing his internship at Arrowhead, Eddie was selected to become a Congressional Intern at the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. under Congressman Raul Ruiz M.D, one of the most competitive internships in the country. During his time working as an intern on the hill, Eddie worked on health legislation regarding the introduction of the Affordable Care Act and developed various bill recommendations for the House and the Senate.

Upon graduating from CSUSB in 2014, Eddie began to work as an EMT in the Emergency Room of an underserved area of San Bernardino. After 2 years of working in the ER, Eddie applied and was accepted in to the PA program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 2016. While completing his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies in Primary Care, he assisted in delivering primary care with the renowned street medicine organization, Boston Health Care for the Homeless. As a General Electric National Medical Fellowship Scholar, Eddie developed research in regards to potential medications that could help combat the opioid epidemic Boston was facing in their homeless population. Additionally, Eddie served as a Clinical Team Coordinator at the Community Health Center at Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. Here, he provided holistic primary care by leading a team of healthcare professionals made up of medical students, occupational therapists, case workers, pharmacists, and behavioral health specialists. Eddie also served as a PA advocate in Washington D.C to lobby for bills such as Title VII, whose goal is to improve access to primary care in underserved and rural areas throughout the country.

Furthermore, he is a Speaker and Volunteer for the USC Pipeline Program geared towards educating students from underserved backgrounds about the various healthcare professions. Eddie continues to present workshops on education, studying skills, networking, mentoring, and the PA profession at some of the most prestigious schools in California including University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), University of California, Davis, Stanford University, California Baptist University, University of Southern California, and California State University, Los Angeles. Eddie continues to serve an advocate for higher education and takes pride in community health and education.