Category: News

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Andrea Cabrera (she/her) who will culminate our student fellow spotlight series.

Andrea, who was born and raised in San Diego, California, is a first-year PhD student in Nursing Science. As an undergraduate student, she began to volunteer at the local hospital, and the nurses around her sparked her interest in the field. “My nurse mentors inspired me in the way they came alongside their patients and embodied a holistic approach to care,” she says.

Eventually, Andrea’s interest in nursing shifted towards population health as she broadened her understanding of health inequities experienced by historically marginalized communities. “While working as a community health nurse and learning some of the challenges of working within the US health system, I decided that earning a PhD in nursing was the next step in equipping myself to fight for systemic change,” she explains.

The influence of her nursing years is evident in Andrea’s approach to fighting for systemic change in the context of academia—an approach rooted in care, community, and interconnectedness. “My plan post-graduation is to pursue a career that combines listening, advocacy, teaching, and research. My research areas of interest include the integration of context and culture in community health implementation and evaluation methods, with a focus on mental health, quality of life, and social cohesion,” she adds.

So where does Latinx health fit?

“My commitment to promoting Latinx health is, in part, personal as I have seen family and friends meet challenges in receiving timely, affordable, and culturally responsive care,” she says. “I admire the solidarity found in Latinx communities, and I hope to highlight and support these strengths in my research.”

Starting this fall, Andrea will be pursing an MPH in Health Metrics and Evaluation alongside her PhD. Good luck in your concurrent doctoral and masters studies Andrea!

Read more about Andrea’s story here!

Latinx communities in our state continue to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Two weeks ago, the Department of Health released data revealing that 44% of all COVID-19 cases in WA state were Latinxs. This number is even more alarming since Latinx individuals comprise only 13% of the state’s population. In addition, the Department of Health data found that the race/ethnicity of 27% of tested individuals is unknown. Yet, media coverage is distressingly silent about this reality, which encourages a lack of action that is urgently warranted.

The lack of attention to this crisis impacting the Latinx population in our state is systemic. On July 3, for example, the Seattle Times reported on the high prevalence of COVID-19 cases in the Yakima region, a virus hotspot in our state and country. Fifty percent of Yakima County’s population is Latinx, however, Latinxs were only mentioned briefly at the end of the article. This insufficient reporting on the disproportionate rates of Latinx individuals testing positive for the deadly virus is a concerning pattern. Such practices contribute to behaviors such as a reluctance of Health Districts across the state to recognize the diversity of the populations they are responsible for serving. Systemic racism also contributes to these patterns of making invisible the COVID-19 crisis impacting marginalized communities.

As Latinx educators and researchers, we cannot remain silent to the grave injustice and harm being perpetrated in failing to acknowledge the risks and harmful impact of COVID-19 upon Latinxs, many of whom are considered essential workers at the cost of their safety and health as well as the health of their family members. This failure is an outrage. This public health crisis requires immediate and dramatic action.

Towards this end, the Latino Center for Health is taking timely action in a three-fold manner: 1) funding and initiating a rigorous survey study of the impact of COVID-19 on rural and urban Latinxs in our state; 2) collaborating on several COVID-19-focused grant efforts with other researchers and community organizations to enhance testing and examine the impact of the virus on our state’s most vulnerable populations from a health systems perspective; and 3) organizing a webinar to highlight the impact across our state and to mobilize needed action. In addition, the Center’s website is making available a variety of resources for community members, researchers and others interested in learning more about COVID-19 in the Latinx population.

Latinx communities and other communities of color bear the burden of this invisibility to society. The lack of access to culturally responsive health providers and services, the lack of admission of Latinx individuals to medical schools, and employers’ lack of accountability to ensure the safety and health of their workers persist yet no alarm is raised. 44% means that Latinxs are overrepresented by 3.4 times among COVID-19 cases in our state compared with Whites who are half as likely to test positive based on their representation in the state’s population. If this situation were reversed, would our government, public health agencies and the media be similarly slow to respond and unconcerned?

In the words of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “If you don’t admit it, you can’t correct it.” We call upon the Seattle Times, all media sources in the state and leadership to elevate awareness of the urgent need for action. We call to increase messaging in English and Spanish, to expand access to timely testing to include evenings and weekends and the use of mobile test sites. We also call to increase our state’s capacity for rapid culturally and linguistically sensitive contact tracing and provide support for quarantine once a diagnosis is confirmed. Awareness and funding of effective practices of messaging, enforcement of workplace safety practices, and testing are crucial to flatten the curve and promote the health of Latinxs and all residents of our state.

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[1] https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020COVID19/DataDashboard

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Mariany Morales (she/her/ella), student at the UW School of Dentistry.

Mariany was born in Mexico City but moved to the U.S. at the age of five, where she was then raised in Yakima, WA. She gained interest in the health sciences because she wanted to bridge the gap between health and the migrant community. “I was raised by a hardworking migrant family, so I was constantly exposed to the heavy grind by migrant laborers to make ends meet and provide for their families. Although they possess very admirable traits, I also saw that many neglected their health, whether that was because of the busy lifestyle, financial hardships, cultural barriers or the mistrust in the healthcare system,” she says.

Mariany chose dentistry specifically because she saw early on that oral health is one of the areas that was most neglected in her community. “Many people think that dentistry is just about braces and aesthetics, but it’s much more than that,” she says. Oral disease (tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancers), it turns out, leads to host of other issues. “[Oral disease] can lead to systemic disease, severe pain, infection, and costly emergency visits that can be a huge burden to populations that are already facing countless hardships,” she explains.

Next year, Mariany will be graduating with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, and she plans on continuing her education for a bit longer to advance her skill set not only as a dentist, but also as an active member of her community. “My main goals are to educate communities on the importance of oral health in primary care, build relationships and trust between community members and dental professionals, and make dental care more accessible considering location, transportation, cost, fears, and more.”

Read more about Mariany’s story here!

The Latino Center for Health is delighted to welcome Dr. Nathalia Jimenez as our new Research Director as of June 1st. Dr. Jimenez brings a wealth of experience in health disparities and patient outcomes research among Latinx children and youth. She currently is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at UW School of Medicine and an Attending Physician at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. Her research includes studies on disparities in pain management, including biological and socio-cultural determinants of pain treatment among minority patients, outcomes after traumatic brain injury among Latinx children, and patient navigation to bridge care between hospital and community services. As Research Director, Dr. Jimenez will help guide the Center’s short-term and long-term research goals and portfolio in alignment with our mission to promote the health of diverse Latinx populations across the state. She will serve as Research Director on a part-time basis. We are grateful for Dr. Jimenez’s vibrant commitment to provide leadership and expertise to the Latino Center for Health.

Welcome to the team, Nathalia! ¡Bienvenida!

[Part 2 of 2] Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Amaya Alonso and Mary Carmen Zuñiga, students at the UW School of Medicine.

Mary Carmen (she/her) is a third-year medical student. She was born and raised in a small town in Zacatecas, Mexico and moved to the U.S. when she was 18 years old to pursue her undergraduate degree.

Mary Carmen’s desire to serve those susceptible to diabetes, chronic cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular accidents due to social and cultural factors drove her to study medicine. “During my path, I have also recognized my passion for research, mentorship, and advocating for underserved and vulnerable populations,” she adds.

Upon graduating, Mary Carmen plans to continue her medical training with residency and ultimately practice in a setting where she can continue advocating for and providing care to diverse and economically disadvantaged populations, including Latinx communities. “[These communities] have faced systemic inequities throughout history, which have led to marked health disparities. I have seen the consequences of these disparities in my own family and friends,” she says. “As an immigrant, first generation, bilingual Latina I hope to use my skills and cultural understanding to help in caring for Latinx communities and other underserved populations.”

Read more about Mary Carmen’s story here (in English) and here (en español)!

[Part 1 of 2] Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Amaya Alonso and Mary Carmen Zuñiga, students at the UW School of Medicine.

Amaya (she/her), born and raised in the East Bay of Northern California, is a second-year Masters student in Occupational Therapy (OT).

Amaya became interested in the field of OT because, knowing that she wanted to work within the medical system, she noticed OT has wide scope of practice. “OT combines training in areas that I love—body mechanics, neurological rehabilitation, the importance of narrative—with the idea that no individual exists outside of their surroundings,” she says.

While Amaya isn’t sure what her future career looks like due to the uncertainties that come with living in the age of COVID-19, she is certainly aware of the importance of focusing on Latino health. “Because I believe in the system we work in, if you do not focus on Latino health, it more often than not ends up being neglected,” she adds.

Read more about Amaya’s story here!

[Part 2 of 2]

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Gabino Abarca and Magali Blanco, students at the UW School of Public Health.

Magali (she/her) is a third-year PhD student in Environmental and Occupational Hygiene. She was born in Jalisco, Mexico and moved to Santa Cruz, CA when she was five years old, where she grew up most of her life.

Magali was drawn to environmental health because she realized how enacting simple environmental changes can make a big difference in one’s health. “I like the idea that there are small, feasible actions that we can all take to improve our health over the long run. For example, choosing less trafficked routes to exercise on, filtering our water, and selecting foods with lower pesticide loads whenever possible,” she says.

Magali is hoping to graduate soon and take the necessary steps in her career to conduct research in environmental epidemiology, hopefully focused on Latinx health. “Latinx communities are disproportionally affected by many environmental hazards such as community air pollution and occupational pesticide exposures,” she says. “By supporting Latinx health, for example through educational campaigns and public health interventions, we are supporting the health of important sectors of our communities and making us all stronger.”

Read more about Magali’s story here!

[Part 1 of 2]

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Gabino Abarca and Magali Blanco, students at the UW School of Public Health.

Gabino (he/him) graduated this spring with a Masters of Public Health in Health Services. Congratulations Gabino! ¡Felicidades!

Gabino is from a small agricultural town in Eastern Washington called Mattawa. As a son of agriculture workers and having experienced agriculture work himself, he began to notice the occupational exposures and illness related to fieldwork. “I decided early on after seeing coworkers sick with heat stress, asthma, and chronic diseases that I wanted to better understand the health of Latinos engaged in agriculture work,” he says.

Now that he’s graduated, Gabino will be attending UCLA as a PhD student in Community Health Sciences at the Fielding School of Public Health. “I hope to build on my research skills and continue to be involved in research that promotes the health of Latino communities,” he adds.

Why Latino health, you ask? Gabino says it’s because of his upbringing and being Latino himself.

“While working [alongside my parents in the fields], I realized that workers had to deal with pesticides, dust, heat, and extraneous work to earn money to provide for their families. I noticed the limited protections, and the injuries that coworkers faced. Seeing this reality, I knew that it was important for me to advocate for those who have been forgotten.”

Read more about Gabino’s story here!

We wish you the best of luck in your doctoral studies Gabino!

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Stacey Fernandez, student at UW Tacoma.

Stacey was a senior up until recently–she just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare this spring. Congratulations Stacey! ¡Felicidades!

Stacey and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Baja California, Mexico and she grew up in San Bernardino, CA. While living there, she worked at a state-funded preschool for eight years, where she predominantly served Latinx immigrant families from a low-income community.

“I witnessed them navigate systems that were not designed to serve them,” says Stacey. “I found myself engaging in advocacy work during my spare time and decided to pursue professional training as a social worker to improve my skills. Serving and advocating for historically marginalized communities is the fuel that drives my passion,” she adds.

While attending UW Tacoma, Stacey spent a lot of time seeking a community of Latinx scholars who shared similar values and were engaging in similar work. “I wanted to build my network and find support from folks that would understand my experience without even having to explain it,” she says. “This fellowship has allowed me to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in higher education, and now I clearly see the community that stands by me.”

Now that she’s graduated, Stacey plans on using her dedication for social justice and advocacy skills to pursue a career in student affairs. “I will be starting a graduate program at Seattle University in September that will prepare me to work with students in the higher-education field. So, I like to say I will be a social worker in student affairs.”

Read more about Stacey’s story here!

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of our inaugural Student Scholars Fellowship Program, which aims to support the next generation of leaders and scholars who promote the wellbeing of Latinx communities in Washington state. This program includes an outstanding cohort of 10 students in health sciences programs across the campuses of the University of Washington and Heritage University. This week, we are highlighting Dulce Dominguez and Israel Cervantes, students at Heritage University.

Dulce and Israel were both seniors at Heritage University up until recently–they just graduated with a Bachelor’s in Nursing Science and Bachelor’s in Social Work respectively. Congratulations Dulce and Israel! ¡Felicidades!

Dulce was born in Chiapas, Mexico. She moved to Washington when she was about 10 years old and has lived in the Yakima Valley with her family for almost 13 years now.

“My mom, a single mother, worked hard selling tacos at a Taco Stand to be able to bring all of us to the United States. Thanks to her, I am graduating this year with my BSN,” she says.

“I knew that by choosing nursing I could help my community improve their health and make a change in every person I get to care for,” says Dulce when asked about why she chose Nursing. “Nurses play a very important role when caring for patients, they are the ones that get the most contact with patients and possess a great amount of knowledge that helps them diagnose and treat the human body’s response and that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Now that she’s graduated, Dulce plans on continuing her career in nursing and promoting the health of her community. “I plan on gaining further experience and skills as a nurse by applying to a medical-surgical position in a local hospital. After five years, I plan to attend graduate school to be engaged in research projects that will improve the lives of those in Latinx communities,” she says.

Read more about Dulce’s story here!

Israel was also born in Mexico. He came to the US at the age of two and was raised in Wapato, WA, where he attended high school.

“Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people who have helped me through my career, and I would love to be able to someday be that person for others,” he says when asked about why he chose the field of Social Work.

Now that he’s graduated, Israel wants to continue his career in mental health. “My plans are to continue with my education and obtain an MSW. Following I would like to pursue a PhD,” he adds. “Ultimately, I would like to be able to provide mental health [services] and assist with ending the Latino fear or disqualification of mental health issues.”

Read more about Israel’s story here (in English) or here (en español)!