Addressing Health Equity Through Representation: Why Latino Physicians Matter

Written by: Carlos Barrera-Gomez, Health Justice Intern

Introduction 

Latino and Hispanic communities represent one of the largest and fastest-growing populations in the United States, yet this expansion is not represented in the physician workforce. Latino physicians continue to be underrepresented in healthcare, limiting access to care, communication, and health outcomes. Representation in medicine is more than just professional diversity; it is also about health equity and outreach to the community.

Although approximately 19% of the US population identifies as Hispanic, less than 7% of physicians do. Latinas have significantly lower representation, accounting for only around 2% of all physicians nationwide (American Heart Association, 2022; Balderas-Medina Anaya et al., 2023). These disparities illustrate how far the healthcare system remains from mirroring the populations it serves.

Latino/a/x Representation and Health Disparities 

Language barriers, inadequate health literacy, and a lack of culturally relevant care all contribute to health disparities among Latino/a/x groups. These barriers frequently result in delayed care, lower use of preventative services, and poorer health outcomes.

Dr. Judith Flores of the National Hispanic Medical Association emphasizes the value of representation, saying, “Representation is highly important. It has been demonstrated that patients who are cared for in their chosen language and with an awareness of their cultural beliefs have better health results” (Robeznieks, 2023). When patients feel understood and valued, they are more inclined to engage in preventative care.

Latino/a/x physicians are also more likely to work in medically underserved areas and care for patients with similar racial or cultural backgrounds, which helps to close access gaps and improve continuity of care (Balderas-Medina Anaya et al., 2023).

Barriers in the Medical Education Pipeline 

The underrepresentation of Latino/a/x physicians is intimately related to barriers in the medical education pathway. Many Latino/a/x students interested in medicine are first-generation college students from low-income homes, which limits their opportunities for mentorship, advising, and early exposure to health careers. Data show that Latino students are lost at multiple stages of the training pathway. While there is an interest in medicine, fewer Latino students attend medical school, complete residency training, and enter the physician field at rates comparable to their population proportion (Balderas-Medina Anaya et al., 2023; Sepúlveda et al., 2022). Financial barriers, including the cost of standardized exams, application fees, unpaid clinical experiences, and educational debt, further discourage qualified students from continuing along this path. These obstacles result in a system that prioritizes early access and financial security over talent, motivation, and commitment to serving communities.

Current Efforts and Ongoing Gaps 

National organizations have taken steps to address these disparities by targeting the gaps that exist throughout the medical education pipeline. The American Heart Association’s National Hispanic Latino Cardiovascular Collaborative and the National Hispanic Medical Association offer mentorship, professional development, and pipeline support to assist Latino students and physicians in overcoming barriers to access, guidance, and professional isolation (American Heart Association, 2022; Robeznieks, 2023). Research also highlights the importance of strengthening pipelines from community college through graduate education and using holistic admissions practices to reduce structural bias (Balderas-Medina Anaya et al., 2023; Sepúlveda et al., 2022).

While these efforts are promising, progress remains slow and uneven. Without sustained investment and accountability, these initiatives alone are not enough to close the representation gap. 

At the state level, New Jersey has made some efforts to strengthen educational pathways for Hispanic and low-income students, which has important implications for increasing diversity across professional fields, including medicine. For example, New Jersey City University received up to three million dollars in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans program to support the Professional Pathways Project (New Jersey City University Receives $3 Million Federal Grant for Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans | New Jersey City University, 2024). This initiative focuses on expanding access to graduate and professional degrees by enhancing culturally responsible curricula, creating new graduate programs, and providing direct academic and advocacy support for Hispanic and low-income students. Programs such as this one address critical points in the education pipeline by improving retention, mentorship, and access to advanced credentials. 

There have also been attempts at the policy level to address representation gaps in higher education leadership. Senate Resolution SR21, recently reintroduced in the 2026-27 legislative session, encourages colleges and universities in New Jersey to take action to increase Hispanic and Latino leadership and representation (New Jersey Office of Legislative Services, n.d.). The resolution recognizes that while the number of Hispanic and Latino students in New Jersey continues to grow, leadership positions in higher education do not reflect that diversity. It also highlights common barriers such as outdated hiring practices and a lack of diversity on governing boards and search committees. Although SR21 was introduced in the previous legislative session, it failed to gain meaningful traction.

Impact on Communities 

The lack of Latino and Latina physicians affects communities well beyond medical education. Limited access to culturally and linguistically responsive providers can lead to communication issues, less continuity of treatment, and an increased reliance on emergency services. 

Patients report higher levels of satisfaction and better outcomes when providers understand their language, culture, and lived experiences (American Heart Association, 2022). Improving representation in medicine should be treated as a public health strategy that promotes preventative care, minimizes disparities, and builds trust between communities and healthcare systems.

Conclusion 

Addressing the underrepresentation of Latino physicians requires system-level change. Reducing financial barriers, expanding mentorship opportunities, strengthening community college and pre-medical pipelines, and holding institutions accountable for diversity goals are all critical steps toward developing a healthcare workforce that better reflects and serves Latino communities (Balderas-Medina Anaya et al., 2023). Representation in medicine is more than just statistics. It is about providing access, building trust, and improving health outcomes for historically marginalized groups.

References

American Heart Association . (2022, October 17). Representation matters, especially when it comes to your health. American Heart Association. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/representation-matters-especially-when-it-comes-to-your-health 

Balderas-Medina Anaya , Y., Hsu, P., Santizo Greenwood, S., & Hayes-Bautista, D. (2023, August 3). Improvement Needed in Latina Physician Representation: Implications for Medical Education, Training, and Policy . UCLA .  https://latino.ucla.edu/research/improvement-needed-in-latina-physician-representation/

New Jersey City University Receives $3 Million Federal Grant for Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans | New Jersey City University. (2024). Njcu.edu. https://www.njcu.edu/about/news/2024/10/new-jersey-city-university-receives-3-million-federal-grant-promoting-postbaccalaureate-opportunities-hispanic-americans 

New Jersey Office of Legislative Services. (n.d.). SENATE RESOLUTION No. 21 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE. New Jersey Legislature. Retrieved January 28, 2026, from https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/SR21/bill-text?f=SR&n=21_I1 

Robeznieks, A. (2023, December 4). Growing the Hispanic physician workforce is key to better outcomes. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/health-equity/growing-hispanic-physician-workforce-key-better-outcomes 

Sepúlveda, M.-J., Villarruel, A., & de los Angeles Amaro, H. (2022, May 9). Achieving Latino Equity in Medicine, Nursing, and Dentistry Education: Accelerating the Path Forward. National Academy of Medicine . https://nam.edu/perspectives/achieving-latino-equity-in-medicine-nursing-and-dentistry-education-accelerating-the-path-forward/