While the Latino population represents almost 20 percent of the country's population, the number of physicians barely reaches just under 7 percent, a situation that makes it necessary to raise awareness about the shortage of Latino doctors, not only at the local level, but also at the federal level.
In the framework of the National Day of the Latino Doctor, which is celebrated annually on October 1, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) said the commemoration seeks to raise awareness of the need for Latino doctors who can also support the country's Spanish-speaking community.
Numerous socioeconomic factors, including historical discrimination, financial barriers and a lack of peers and role models, among other factors, contribute to the disparities, Santa Clara County said.
In celebrating its Latino physicians on September 27, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the situation and helping to create a path for future Latino physicians.
“Treating the whole patient requires cultural competency for an unparalleled level of care from physicians who reflect the heritage and demographics of the communities they serve,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas.
“On this National Latino Doctors Day, we are raising awareness about the shortage of Latino physicians and seeking to inspire the next generation of Latino physicians to expand the diversity of our physicians with resources so that our community can receive the comprehensive care they deserve,” she added.
For her part, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez explained that the percentage of Latino doctors is critically low compared to the total percentage of Latinos in the U.S.
“Health care disparities have worsened in the Latino community during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and studies have shown that patient outcomes can improve when people are treated by physicians who share their language and ethnicity,” she stressed.
SCVH noted that it actively recruits Latino physicians locally and across the country, but the long-term key is to create a visible pipeline for the next generation of Latino students to choose the medical profession.
She added that future efforts to highlight a path for future Latino doctors include mentoring programs at the high school and college level, volunteer opportunities to showcase the benefits to the community, and helping young people find scholarship opportunities for what is a costly commitment.
“Sometimes you have to see it to believe it, and the more Latino physicians we see growing in our community, the more likely they are to consider becoming physicians,” said Dr. Angela Suarez, medical director of primary care at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.
Dr. Rachel Ruiz, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare and president of Valley Physicians Group, said it will take a generational shift to remedy the situation, “but we are committed to short- and long-term solutions to encourage and develop more Latino physicians in the years ahead.”
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