The UCR School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted the second annual National Latino Physician Day celebration on September 28 to honor the contributions of Latino/a/e/x physicians and work to improve quality of care for Latino populations in the U.S. According to Michael Galvez, MD, creator of National Latino Physician Day, UCR's event was the largest in the nation at over 350 attendees.

The event, which was co-sponsored by Chicano Student Programs, featured keynote speakers California Surgeon General Diana Ramos, MD, MPH and David Hayes-Bautista, director of the UCLA School of Medicine Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture.

In her keynote address, “Rising to the Challenge: Orgullo Latino: Leading the Way,” Ramos shared the values her mother instilled in her of hard work and education. During her medical residency in Los Angeles, Ramos recalled seeing the need for Spanish-speaking physicians to serve the community and advocate for patients. “Querer es poder” (“Where there’s a will, there’s a way”), she told the audience, reminding them not to give up on the fight to achieve representation in medicine while improving quality of care.

“After listening to our keynote speakers, the audience was left feeling energized and inspired,” said Denise Martinez, MD, associate dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and a health sciences clinical professor. “It was inspiring to see families, including parents who brought their children, engaging with the event, sharing in their culture, and listening to the stories of current and future physicians,” she added. “There was a palpable sense of hope that one day, these children could follow in their footsteps.”

Congress members Raul Ruiz, MD (25th District), a founding faculty member of the UCR School of Medicine, and Yadira Caraveo, MD (8th District) designated October 1 as National Latino Physician Day in 2023. Currently, only six percent  of Latino physicians in the U.S. identify as Latino despite Latinos making up 19% of the U.S. population and over 50% of the population in the Inland Empire.

“It's been 20-something years, and the numbers haven’t changed,” said UCR SOM community-based faculty member Evita Limon-Rocha, MD, MPH, who also presented at the event. “And that is not OK.”

National Latino Physician Day is “not just a day of recognition; it’s an opportunity to raise awareness about the very real health disparities faced by Latino populations and to inspire future generations to pursue careers in medicine,” added Martinez. “By coming together, we can celebrate our achievements, share our stories, and encourage dialogue that promotes equity in health for all.”