The Lack of Latinx Representation in Healthcare Professions

Edited by Catherine Verdeflor

For Latinx willing to give American healthcare a try, there is one thing stopping them — the lack of Latinx physicians. Though many Latinx view medical expertise as unnecessary due to the expensive costs and their lack of insurance, those who can afford medical care are disappointed in the small number of Latinx doctors — individuals they feel they can trust the most to take care of their health. According to Cantu-Pawlik, "the number of Latin[x] doctors declined [by] 22% over the past 30 years, while the Latin[x] population rose [by] 243%[, and] only 5% of medical school grads are Latin[x]" (2019, para. 7). Though physicians of color are more willing to practice in underserved areas, Latinx students face many challenges that hinder their journey to become physicians (Machado, 2014, para. 25). For example, Latinx students often struggle in pre-medicine prerequisites because they did not take CollegeBoard's Advanced Placement (AP) courses, such as AP Chemistry and AP Biology (Machado, 2014, para. 25).

Additionally, suppose Latinx surpass that struggle and try to apply to medical school. In that case, they lack the support of mentors to help them through the medical school application process, and they are unable to afford the expensive costs of medical school. The challenge of finances, lack of support, and lack of the academic knowledge needed to get into and graduate from medical school makes it a daunting task to many Latinx, casing them to pursue another career.

It is understood that implicit bias, natural medicine, and the absence of Latinx physicians have a tremendous impact on why Latinx view healthcare as unnecessary, uncomfortable, or expensive — but what can we do about it? According to Machado, this journey won't be easy and that “addressing their healthcare issues is going to take more than a few, simple solutions” (2014, para. 26). Furthermore, she states how it is necessary for healthcare providers to learn about their “diverse community and its multifaceted culture” (2014, para. 26). However, healthcare and medical organizations can start small by helping the Latinx community in their area. For example, Éxito!, a Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program initiated by the Institute for Health Promotion Research, provides an "annual summer institute to increase the number of master' s-degree-level Latin[x] who pursue a doctoral degree” (“What is Éxito?” n.d., para. 2). It also opens Latinx to networking opportunities and helps with completing their doctoral degrees.

References:

Cantu-Pawlik, S. (2019 March 22). Racial Bias Still Infects the Doctor's Office. Salud America! salud-america.org/racial-bias-still-infects-the-doctors-office/.

Machado, A. (2014 May 7). Why Many Latinos Dread Going to the Doctor. The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/05/why-many-latinos-dread-going-to-the-doctor/361547/.

What is Éxito? (n.d.). Éxito Training. https://exitotraining.org/what-is-exito

[Untitled image of a doctor]. Latinx Health & Medical Society. https://www.lhmsociety.org/