Leah Mesquita
Leah Mesquita(she/her)
News Reporter, Phoenix

Leah Mesquita expects to graduate in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in English. Mesquita reports for State Press Magazine and has interned for PHOENIX Magazine.

Latest from Leah Mesquita

Texas Tech Health El Paso program helps high school students go to medical school in state, aims to relieve statewide doctor shortage

EL PASO, Texas – As Texas faces a doctor shortage, a new program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso gives prospective medical students resources to encourage them to pursue their education and practice in state.

Makena Piñon, right, and Luke Briggs, freshmen at the University of Texas at El Paso, in a medical simulation lab at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Programa MedFuture de la Universidad Tecnológica de Texas tiene como objetivo aliviar la escasez de médicos en todo el estado

EL PASO, Texas – A medida que Texas se enfrenta a una escasez de médicos, un nuevo programa ofrece a los futuros estudiantes de medicina una recursos para continuar su educación en el estado.

Brian Wilson, director de educación del Centro de Capacitación y Educación para la Simulación de la Salud, controla la simulación educativa desde una sala de control. (Foto de Jack Orleans/Cronkite Noticias)

Arizona ranks 49th in nation for access to adult mental health care

PHOENIX – Mental Health America ranked Arizona 49th on its national list for adult mental health care, indicating a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower access to care within the state.

The Arizona Department of Health Services’ Arizona State Hospital in Phoenix provides “the highest and most restrictive” level of care in the state, according to AZDHS. (Photo by Crystal Aguilar/Cronkite News)

Tasa prolongada de COVID de Arizona es más alta que el promedio nacional y los hispanos experimentan síntomas a un ritmo más alto que otros grupos

PHOENIX – A medida que los Arizonenses experimentan tasas más altas de COVID prolongado, los nuevos programas de tratamiento trabajan para proporcionar respuestas a las disparidades persistentes.

Banner University Medical Center, where Dr. Hsu works as medical director of ambulatory internal medicine. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Arizona’s long-COVID rate is higher than the national average and Hispanics experience symptoms at a higher rate than other groups

PHOENIX – As Arizonans experience higher rates of long COVID, new treatment programs work to provide answers to persisting disparities.

Banner University Medical Center, where Dr. Hsu works as medical director of ambulatory internal medicine. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Arizona registra un aumento del 20% en los casos de VIH que afectan sobre todo a la comunidad hispana

PHOENIX — Los casos de VIH registrados en Arizona han aumentado un 20%, un aumento que afecta en gran medida a la comunidad hispana. Una organización asistencial de Phoenix describe cómo persisten las barreras económicas y culturales para convencer a la gente de que se haga la prueba.

Un lema alentador sobre la mesa de Christopher Carrillo, gestor de casos en el Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS de Phoenix. Habló sobre las pruebas y el tratamiento del VIH y las afirmaciones que le han ayudado. (Foto de Jack Orleans/Cronkite Noticias)

Black Americans three times as likely to experience kidney failure as whites

PHOENIX — Black Americans are more likely to experience kidney failure than any other racial group in the United States, as the community has high rates of high blood pressure and diabetes.

Angela Beatty on her way to receive dialysis on Feb. 28. Beatty says untreated high blood pressure caused her kidney disease. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Arizona reports 20% increase in HIV cases, predominantly affecting Hispanic communities

PHOENIX – Reported Arizona HIV cases have increased by 20%, an uptick largely affecting the Hispanic community. A Phoenix care organization describes how financial and cultural barriers persist to persuading people to get tested.

Christopher Carrillo, case manager at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS in Phoenix. (Photo by Jack Orleans/Cronkite News)

Community 43 supplements Phoenix traditional mental health services with ‘clubhouse’ model focused on social and cognitive skills

PHOENIX — Community 43, a Phoenix mental health facility, uses a “clubhouse” model to provide recreational opportunities for members to improve quality of life and regain independence.