Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Celebrates National Latina/o/x/e Physician Day

Santa Clara County, Calif. – Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) proudly hosted a celebration for their Latina/o/x/e physician community on September 27 in advance of National Latine Physician Day, which occurs annually on October 1.

Latine Physician Day was established in 2022 to raise awareness of the shortage of Latine physicians across the country. Where the demographic represents nearly 20% of the country’s population, the physician population hovers at just under 7%.

Numerous socio-economic factors, including historical discrimination, financial barriers, and lack of peers and role models, among other factors, contribute to the disparities. Nonetheless, Santa Clara Valley Healthcare is embracing the opportunity to heighten awareness of the situation and help create a path for future Latine doctors.

“Treating the entire patient requires cultural competency for a level of care that is unmatched by doctors who reflect the heritage and demographic of the communities they serve,” said County of Santa Clara Supervisor Sylvia Arenas. “This National Latine Physicians Day, we raise awareness on the shortage of Latine physicians and seek to inspire the next generation of Latine doctors to expand the diversity of our physicians with resources so that our community may receive the holistic care they deserve.”

“The percentage of the Latine physicians is critically low when compared against the total percentage of Latines in the U.S., which is nearly 20%,” said County of Santa Clara Supervisor Cindy Chavez. “Health care disparities have worsened in the Latine community during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and studies have shown that patient outcomes can improve when people are treated by doctors who share their language and ethnic background.”

SCVH actively recruits Latine physicians locally and across the country, but the long-term key is creating a visible pipeline for the upcoming generation of Latine students to choose the medical profession. Future endeavors to highlight a path for future Latine doctors include mentoring programs at the high school and college level, volunteer opportunities to showcase the benefits to the community, and helping youth locate scholarship opportunities for what is an expensive commitment.  

“Sometimes you need to see it to believe it and the more Latine physicians our community sees growing up, the more likely they are to consider becoming a doctor,” said Dr. Angela Suarez, Primary Care Medical Director for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

“It will take generational change to remedy the situation, but we are committed to both short- and long-term solutions to encourage and create more Latine doctors in the years to come,” said Dr. Rachel Ruiz, M.D. Pediatric Gastroenterologist with Santa Clara Valley Healthcare and chair of Valley Physicians Group.  

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About Santa Clara Valley Healthcare
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH), California's second-largest County-owned health and hospital system, is comprised of three acute care hospitals, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O’Connor Hospital, and St. Louise Regional Hospital, along with a network of primary and specialty clinics. SCVH emphasizes quality care, research, teaching, innovation, and most importantly, a focus on coordinated, compassionate and patient-centered care for every patient. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County, regardless of their social-economic status or ability to pay.  St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) is a 93-bed community hospital located in Gilroy, California and is part of the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare system.
 

Media Contact: County of Santa Clara Health System, (408) 568-3122, [email protected]