Santa Monica College will celebrate Latino Heritage Month with a talk on "Latinos and the American West" by UCLA's Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, who is currently researching the demographic history of Latinos in Los Angeles from 1871 to2005 for his next book.

The free lecture will be given at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Humanities & Social Science Lecture Hall 165 on the main SMC campus, 1900 Pico Blvd.

Hayes-Bautista is currently Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the School of Medicine, UCLA. He graduated from UC Berkeley and completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Medical Sociology at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco.

Hayes-Bautista's research focuses on the dynamics and processes of the health of the Latino population using both quantitative data sets and qualitative observations. The Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture combines these research interests with teaching of medical students, residents and practicing providers to manage the care of a Latino patient base effectively, efficiently and economically.

His publications appear in Family Medicine, American Journal of Public Health, Family Practice, Medical Care and Salud Pública de México.

He is the author of several books including, most recently, "Nueva California," published in 2004 by The University of California Press.

The lecture is sponsored by the SMC Latino Center and the SMC Associates, a private organization that funds speakers and special programs on campus.

For information, call (310) 434-4303 or go to www.smc.edu/associates.