Origin
The 2014 Latino Health Conference
Between 2000 and 2011, the Hispanic population in the Pacific Northwest grew by 93%, accounting for 43% of the region's total population growth. Yet research on this community's health needs remained severely limited — hindered by barriers of language, cost, legal documentation, and community mistrust of research institutions.
In April 2014, the Group Health Research Institute and the UW Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) convened the inaugural regional Latino Health Conference in Seattle. The two-day event brought together 100 community stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers from across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Oregon to identify the most pressing health issues affecting Latino communities and to establish a foundation for future research collaboration.
The research agenda developed from that conference became the founding framework for the Latino Center for Health — established later that same year.
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 two founding co-directors at the University of Washington. The goal was to create a paradigm-shifting research center that engages in community-centered research to inform policy development and practice. A core value of the Center is to support and mentor the next generation of scholars and leaders.
Initial seed funding was provided by the Deans of the School of Social Work and the Graduate School with additional support from the School of Medicine.
The Center's future was firmly launched through the initiative and leadership of three women, led by former Washington State Representative Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney along with Laura Flores-Cantrell and Nora Coronado. They successfully secured initial proviso funding from the State Legislature for the 2015–2017 biennium.
Following this state support, the Provost of UW provided office space without charge to house the Center for a period of five years. With a total staff of five, the Center grew as a state-sponsored interdisciplinary research center in identity and impact while building partnerships with community organizations across Washington state.
Research & Programs
Dolores Huerta Campus Visit
The Latino Center for Health collaborated with the Graduate School to organize a historic visit by Dolores Huerta to the UW campus in October 2014. During her two-day visit, she delivered the Graduate School's public lecture, met and spoke with students at the Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, met with the President of the University and other leaders and dignitaries, and participated in two radio interviews.
She was also the guest of honor at a special breakfast event organized by the Center with community and university leaders. This event raised scholarship funds for the Center.
Community EngagementScholarship Fundraiser
Depression Care Innovation
In partnership with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (YVFWC) and Heritage University, under the leadership of Dr. Aisenberg, the Center 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 low-income and rural Latinx patients of the YVFWC. This intervention was culturally tailored and delivered by telephone.
With funding support from Molina Healthcare, this specialized program was disseminated to three community provider organizations to train their bachelor-level staff and promotoras, expanding access to evidence-based care, reducing barriers of stigma and transportation, and growing a skilled workforce of practitioners.
CBT InterventionMolina Healthcare Funding
Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney Graduate Student Scholar Fellowship
The Center established a Fellowship Program for graduate students in the Schools of Health Science at UW Seattle Campus, providing $5,000 per awardee. Since its initial investment in 2019, the program has expanded to include Health Science students from UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, Heritage University, Eastern Washington University, and Washington State University. The Fellowship award currently consists of $2,500 provided by the Latino Center for Health, matched by the Deans from the respective schools.
The Fellowship Program — renamed the Phyllis Gutiérrez-Kenney Graduate Student Scholar Fellowship — continues to expand its scope and activities in support of professional development, utilizing alumni to foster a network of Latinx scholars and emerging leaders in the health sciences.
Fellowship ProgramMulti-university Expansion
Latinx Faculty Recognition Event
The Latino Center for Health established the Latinx Faculty Recognition Event in response to the need to elevate the visibility of Latinx faculty by honoring and celebrating the scholarly contributions and retirements of Latinx faculty across the tri-campuses of the University of Washington.
Annual RecognitionTri-campus
Latinx Physician Workforce Study
The Center conducted a seminal study led by Dr. Morales revealing that while the state population of Latino residents was 13.7%, only 3.1% of physicians identified as Latino. These findings informed two important policy initiatives.
First, legislation was passed in 2021 directing the UW and WSU Schools of Medicine to establish enrollment goals reflecting the state's racial and ethnic demographics by 2025. Second, a clear pathway was established for International Medical Graduates (IMGs), enabling licensed physicians from other countries to receive supervised practice as a prerequisite for residency programs in Washington state.
Policy ImpactWorkforce Research
COVID-19 Community Health Response
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. An initial study on the symptoms and impact of COVID-19 was conducted in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers in late 2020.
The Center joined with the state department of health and community partners to launch Adios COVID, providing pop-up clinics to make no-cost vaccinations available in urban and rural communities.
Community ResponseAdios COVID
Study of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Latinos
In collaboration with SeaMar Community Health Centers, the Center conducted a study of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Latino patients. A total of 2,500 patients were surveyed — including oversampling of men and Spanish-speakers — resulting in 318 completed surveys. The survey examined barriers and facilitators, sources of information, and beliefs and trust related to COVID-19 vaccines.
Study results were disseminated through several LCH policy briefs and webinars.
COVID-19 ResearchPolicy Briefs
Study of Long COVID Among Latinos
In 2022, the Center launched a study of long COVID in collaboration with the Allen Institute for Immunology, the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, and SeaMar Community Health Centers. Approximately 8,000 patients who had a positive COVID-19 test and identified as Hispanic/Latino were contacted. The Center received 1,546 responses and completed the study in the fall of 2023.
The study's results were disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and webinars.
Long COVIDCommunity Partnership
Mi Salud Community Health Screening
Community Health
Domestic Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury
In 2024, the Center partnered with Dr. María E. Garay-Serratos, a leading expert on the invisible epidemic of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) linked to domestic violence among disadvantaged populations. The Center is committed to raising awareness of this silent epidemic and advocating for the systematic screening and provision of care for this underserved population.
In Washington state, approximately 50% of crimes committed against persons in 2024 involved domestic violence. The Center's collaboration with Dr. Garay-Serratos focuses on elevating the voices of survivors, connecting Latinx communities with resources, and advancing research at the intersection of domestic violence and brain injury.
Community PartnershipDV-TBIDr. María E. Garay-Serratos
Present Day
Throughout its history, the Center has benefitted from the exemplary leadership of outstanding staff members. Their passion and commitment have contributed marked and impactful improvements in the health and well-being of rural and urban Latinx communities across Washington state.
Several staff members have gone on to complete their PhD degrees, return to school to obtain Master's degrees in Public Health and Social Work, and become community leaders promoting health — reflective of the Center's 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 and located in the Roosevelt Commons East Building near the corner of 43rd and 11th Avenue in Seattle.
Approaching our 13th year of leadership, the Center is a trusted community partner and dynamic resource. The Center continues to publish policy briefs, engage in innovative community-partnered research, mentor and fund Latinx graduate students, advocate for workforce development, and help recruit and support the excellence of Latinx faculty with a focus on advancing the health of Latinx individuals, families and communities in Washington state and the region.
- Publishing policy briefs to inform elected officials and the community on Latinx health concerns
- Engaging in innovative research in partnership with community organizations to address health disparities
- Elevating the voice of the Latinx community in health systems and policy
- Making impactful contributions to Latinx graduate student support and workforce development
- Recruiting and supporting Latinx faculty across the University of Washington