Origin
The Latino Center for Health is an interdisciplinary research center that promotes the health and well-being of Latinx individuals, families, and communities in Washington state. It is the first and only research center in the state whose singular focus is on the health of the Latinx community. The Center was established in 2014 under the leadership and vision of Dr. Gino Aisenberg, faculty member at the University of Washington School of Social Work, and Dr. Leo Morales, Assistant Dean for Healthcare Equity and Quality in the UW School of Medicine. The goal was to create a paradigm-shifting research center that engages in community-centered research to inform policy development and practice. Additionally, a core value of the Center is to support and mentor the next generation of scholars and leaders,
The Deans of the School of Social Work and the Graduate School provided initial seed funding, coupled with additional support from the School of Medicine. Through the initiative and leadership of three women, former Washington State Representative Phyllis Gutierrez-Kenney, Laura Flores-Cantrell, and Nora Coronado, the Center received initial proviso funding from the State Legislature in July 2015. This funding signaled a strong belief and commitment in the vision of the Center and its mission. Following this state support, the Provost of UW funded office space to house the Center for a period of five years. With a total staff of five, the Center grew in identity and impact while building partnerships with community organizations across WA state.
Research and Programs
In 2019, the Center established a Fellowship Program for graduate students in the Schools of Health Science at UW Seattle Campus, originally providing $5000 per awardee. In subsequent years, this program has expanded to include students from UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, Heritage University, Eastern Washington University, and Washington State University. Our Fellowship Program continues to expand its scope and activities in support of the professional development of the awardees and utilizing alumni to foster a network of Latinx scholars and emerging leaders in the health sciences.
The Center conducted a major study in 2020 with the Latinx Physician Workforce study. Findings revealed that while the state population of Latino residents was 13.7%, only 3.1% of the physicians identified as Latino. These findings informed two important policy initiatives. First, legislation was passed in 2021 where the UW and WSU schools of medicine agreed to establish a goal that their incoming classes of medical students by 2025 would reflect the population of the state across racial/ethnic populations. Second, a clear pathway was established for International Medical Graduates (IMG), who are licensed physicians in their home country, but unable to practice medicine in the United States. With new legislation passed, IMG’s can receive supervision by a licensed physician for one year, as a prerequisite for admission into residency programs in our state.
With the onset of the pandemic, the Center actively addressed the health and mental health needs of Latinx individuals across the state who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We conducted an initial study on the symptoms and impact of COVID-19 in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers in late 2020. Additionally, the Center assisted in staffing and supporting pop-up clinics to make no-cost vaccinations available in urban and rural communities by trusted entities. Currently, the Center, in partnership with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, the Allen Institute, and DataStat, is collecting data from Latinx patients with long COVID which is largely unaddressed in the state and country. Findings will be presented at a symposium in November 2023 at Heritage University with elected officials, community health representatives, and community leaders participating.
To provide better care for Latinx individuals struggling with depression, the Center in partnership with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (YVFWC) and Heritage University, developed and implemented an innovative curriculum and training program for cohorts of bachelor students in the social work program at Heritage University. With proper training and supervision these students effectively delivered an evidence-based, manualized cognitive behavioral intervention for depression to Latinx patients of the YVFWC. This intervention is culturally tailored to Latinx adults and is delivered by telephone.
With funding support by Molina Healthcare, this specialized program will be disseminated to three community provider organizations to train their bachelor level staff and promotoras to deliver the telephone-based CBT intervention to patients of their organizations, expanding access to evidence-based care, reducing barriers of stigma and transportation, and growing a workforce of skilled practitioners.
Over the past six years, the Latino Center for Health has sponsored and organized the Latinx Faculty Recognition Event. This event honors and celebrates the scholarly contributions of Latinx faculty across the tri-campuses of the University of Washington. Bringing visibility to the outstanding contributions of diverse Latinx faculty, this event continues to inspire students, faculty, UW leadership, elected officials, and the community.
Present Day
The Center has enjoyed the contributions and leadership of outstanding staff members over the years. Their passion and commitment to make marked improvements in the health and well-being of rural and urban Latinx communities across Washington state have been and remain exemplary and impactful. We are proud that several staff members have gone on to complete their PhD, return to school to obtain Master’s degrees in Public Health and Social Work, and become community leaders promoting health. This is reflective of our mission to support, mentor, and grow the next generation of scholars and leaders in Latinx health.
From its small beginnings, the Center is now housed administratively at the School of Social Work. Outgrowing its initial home, the Center currently is located in the Roosevelt Commons East Building near the corner of 43rd and 11th Avenue. Funding support by the state legislature has increased over the years.
For the 2023-2025 biennium, the Center received $1,500,000 to continue its important work. Approaching its 10th year, the Center is a trusted community partner and resource. We continue to publish policy briefs to inform elected officials and the community about salient health concerns of the Latinx community. We engage in innovative research in partnership with community organizations to address health disparities, improve access to services, and elevate the voice of the Latinx community. We continue to make impactful contributions in support of Latinx graduate students and workforce development. We help recruit and support Latinx faculty. The Latino Center for Health continues to be a difference maker and change agent in improving the health of Latinx communities throughout WA state.