During a Galla Event that took place on October 13, 2023, at the Cleveland City Hall Rotonda, Dr. Maria J. Pujana, MD received the 2023 Angel Guzman Outstanding Achievement Award. This honor, presented as part of the City of Cleveland’s Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizes those who embody the spirit of active involvement, selfless service, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of a diverse community.

The recipient of this award was endorsed by the Mayor of the City of Cleveland, Ohio Justin M. Bibb, the Director of the City of Cleveland Community Relations Board Angela Shute-Woodson, the City of Cleveland Hispanic Liaison Christopher Martínez, and the City of Cleveland Hispanic Board of Trustees.

Dr. Maria Pujana was born in Asturia, Spain, and spent her youth in Colombia. At the age of seventeen, she returned to Madrid where she earned her medical degree from the Universidad Complutense. Eventually, she moved to San Francisco and in 1985, to Cleveland. Adapting to Cleveland was not difficult for Dr. Pujana. She says she immediately felt part of the entire community and the city. "I assimilated very well and felt welcome from the beginning."

Philanthropy and volunteerism beckoned to her, and she quickly answered the call. She was able to enter into roles that had previously not been filled by a Hispanic.
She was one of the members of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Foundation where she was able to use her vast knowledge to help non-profit organizations do their good works. In fact, she was the first and only Hispanic to serve on that Board.
Among other organizations, Dr. Pujana served on the Board of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross; the Foundation Board of MetroHealth; The Foundation Board of Cuyahoga Community College; on the Advisory Board of the Cleveland Art Museum, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chair of Casa Maria of HUMADAOP. She is currently a member of the Womens Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and a member of the group that in October of 2023 successfully staged the first-ever Hispanic/Latino music event at the Mandel Concert Hall of the Severance Music Center to celebrate a Hispanic Heritage Month with the attendance of over 2000 guests.

Dr. Pujana, was one of the recipients of the 2015 “Ohtli Award.” She was recognized for her years of work and success in helping the Hispanic/Latino and Mexican communities throughout the Northeast Ohio region. This Award is one of the highest and very limited distinctions given by the Government of Mexico to distinguished individuals of Mexican or Hispanic/Latino origin whose efforts have contributed significantly to the well-being, prosperity, and empowerment of Mexican communities abroad. Ohtli is a náhuatl word that means “pathway,” or “camino” in Spanish.

Dr. Pujana taught at Case Western Reserve University in a pioneer program that is geared toward doctors and professionals. The class focuses on the Hispanic and Latino population and their inclusion in the medical system and process. She thinks good communication between doctor and patient is vital and tried to emphasize this in her classes.

The Award she received in 2023 from The City of Cleveland bears the name of Angel Guzman, a native of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, who came to Cleveland when he was only 5 years old. He grew up in the heavily Spanish-speaking Clark-Fulton neighborhood and never left. Friends and admirers recall Guzman's charm, his love for dance, and his tireless advocacy for Latinos, especially those trying to start a business. In February 2006, Guzman became the City of Cleveland Consumer Affairs Department's Director, in charge of protecting citizens from predatory loans and fraudulent business practices. Before his City Hall appointment as a top administrator in Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's cabinet, Angel Guzmán was longtime head of the Hispanic Business Association, also known as the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Ohio.

The recognition letter to Dr. Maria J. Pujana states “The theme of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month is Be Proud of your Past and Embrace your Future. Your extensive work and passion for the community align perfectly with this message. You have been a beacon of hope, a pillar of strength, and a symbol of resilience for many. Through your efforts, you have not only created a lasting legacy for the present but have also paved the way for the generations to come.”

“I humbly accept this award, not as a symbol of a personal achievement but as an inspiration for all of those who love our Multi-Ethnic Cleveland Community,” said Dr. Pujana. “I was happy to be honored surrounded by family and good friends,” continued Dr. Pujana.