December 2025 — Renowned public health scientist Héctor G. Balcázar, MS, PhD, announces the release of the Spanish-language edition of his acclaimed memoir, ¡NO ES DE EXTRAÑAR! – El Arte de Crear un Nuevo Mundo. This vibrant, deeply personal work—originally published in English as No Wonder: The Art of Creating a New World—blends life experience, academic discovery, and an inspiring call to build more just and compassionate communities.
This new publication also serves as the sequel to Dr. Balcázar’s earlier Spanish-language book, Borrando la Invisibilidad Histórica: Creando un Mundo Compasivo, where he explores humanity’s wounds and the collective path toward healing. In ¡NO ES DE EXTRAÑAR!, Dr. Balcázar extends that vision, offering further reflection, storytelling, and actionable insight rooted in decades of public health leadership.
Raised in Mexico City and educated at Cornell University, Dr. Balcázar built an extensive academic career across five major U.S. universities, focusing his research on Latino and Mexican American health, community health workers, and bicultural family dynamics. With more than 180 publications—including 103 peer-reviewed scientific articles—he is widely respected as a leader in research, education, and community-based health initiatives.
Now available for the first time in Spanish, ¡NO ES DE EXTRAÑAR! invites Spanish-speaking readers into an intimate journey through three defining chapters of Dr. Balcázar’s life and work:
Part 1 explores his immigrant family story, formative years in Mexico City, and his academic path culminating at Cornell, where he discovered the powerful intersection of science and social justice.
Part 2 highlights his groundbreaking work with community health workers and innovative strategies for community transformation and health equity.
Part 3 introduces the forward-looking concept of the “community spiritual worker,” a new actor in building healthier, more unified societies.
Motivated by a desire to bring hope to underserved communities, Dr. Balcázar reflects on the realities of “human invisibility”—the individuals and families who have been unseen, neglected, or pushed to the margins. Through vivid storytelling rooted in two cultures, rich traditions, food, poetry, music, and decades of academic and community practice, he invites readers to imagine—and co-create—a more compassionate world.
Now retired and living in Mexico with his wife, Dr. Balcázar continues to find inspiration in their botanical garden and Bahá’í-inspired spiritual retreat, Refugio del Resplandor. This new Spanish edition stands as both a tribute to the resilience of underserved communities and an accessible resource for public health professionals, community leaders, scholars, and readers seeking a story of purpose, transformation, and hope.
¡NO ES DE EXTRAÑAR! – El Arte de Crear un Nuevo Mundo is now available in Spanish across major retailers.