Latinos in medicine: Role models for those who dare to dream

Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez

Very early in my education, I started looking around for someone I could look up to, unsuccessfully. Instead, I found many models of what not to become: a drop-out, mediocre, a cat lady, a frustrated immigrant, or prostitute. Nowadays, since I’ve already decided to go to medical school and become a doctor, I question whether that’s a good choice and look again for hope of success in those who made it.
But where are those who made it? Who are the Latinos who – just like me – came to the U.S. with a dream and pursued education to become health professionals? Once I started doing research I found there’s little to no information on Latino doctors online (apparently if you’re not a celebrity you’re not worth knowing about). So I did what nerds do best: I went to the library. If you look on the bottom of the shelves, under all the books on statistics you may find pretty interesting resources on successful Latinos in any field.
I felt rushes of random joy every time I read a brother’s name with a fancy looking job tittle like biomedical engineer, or psychopharmacologist, or geneticist, and a little sadness to see the discrepancy between the number of men and women in the sciences. I hand-picked two doctors who I believe stand out in the field for being well known and respected, over-achievers, and, of course, Latinos:
Rodolfo Llinas: (Colombian-American, born 1934) currently teaching at NYU, Llinas is mostly known for his position as editor-in-chief of Neuroscience Journal and for his extensive research on neurobiology and electrophysiology. His research on neuronal systems and the evolution of the central nervous system led Llinas to develop his very own theory of brain’s functioning which could in turn lead to new developments on the treatment of mental illness. His research is summarized in the book I of the Vortex: From Neurons to Self. *
Antonia Coello Novello: (Puerto Rican, born 1944), mostly recognized for being the first woman and the first Hispanic U.S. surgeon general. She completed her medical education in the University of Puerto Rico; later on she obtained a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. She worked in private practice of pediatrics and nephrology, before joining the Public Health Service. She served as representative of health and nutrition for UNICEF, also as a professor of health policy at Johns Hopkins, and as New York State’s health commissioner, appointed by governor Pataki.*
Latinos like these prove to each of us que si se puede. We can, with enough dedication and determination get as far as we wish in our careers. And even though becoming a doctor seems like the most unattainable of dreams due to the insane tuition rates, it is a rewarding career that promises stable employment and personal satisfaction. Also with the current shortage of Latino doctors, many universities and hospitals are constantly recruiting motivated Latino students. Take advantage of every opportunity you encounter and move fearlessly in the direction of your dreams.
*Biographies taken from The Hispanic American Almanac. Third Editition. Benson & Kanellos, Gale Group 2003.

Filed Under: Career Tagged With: Latinos in medicine, role models

About Luna Garcia
Luna was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She moved to Brooklyn at the age of 16 leaving her family and her homeland behind. In 2010 she obtained a BA in Psychology from Baruch College that she is probably never going to use since she decided to go to Medical School and is now pursuing her pre-medical degree in Chemistry. Her experience as a young immigrant places her in-between the American born open minded young Latinos and the old school Born-There generation, allowing her to see any conflict from many perspectives.
Luna has always been a big fan of literature in both English and Spanish. Her obsession turned later into a love for writing and for all things Latino. Currently, Luna is trying to survive her second undergrad while exploiting New York City and looking for more opportunities to write. Her dream is to write fiction but most of her stories escape as soon as they’re about to be written.

Hispanic and Non-Hispanic hospital survival differs

Hospital Survival Differs Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Heart Failure Patients Depending on Heart Function

DALLAS, March 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The odds of surviving their hospital stay for heart failure differ between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients according to their level of heart function, even when they received equal care in hospitals participating in the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines(R)--Heart Failure quality improvement program, researchers said.

The study, published in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation: Heart Failure, is the first in which researchers compare the care and outcomes of Hispanic to non-Hispanic heart failure patients admitted to U.S. hospitals with either preserved (normal) or reduced heart function.

"Hispanics have multiple risk factors for heart failure and many face barriers to receiving health care," said Rey P. Vivo, M.D., lead author of the study and a fellow in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas. "Hispanics make up the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States. Yet, we know very little about the quality and results of care for Hispanic heart failure patients."

Researchers reviewed data from 247 U.S. hospitals in the Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure program in 2005-2010. They divided Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients into groups based on preserved or reduced ejection fraction.

Ejection fraction measures a heart's contracting ability by how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each heartbeat. Heart failure patients with reduced heart function have lower than normal ejection fraction measures.

The researchers found:

· Among patients with preserved (normal) heart function, Hispanic patients were 50 percent less likely than non-Hispanic whites to die during their hospital stays.

· There were no differences in hospital survival between Hispanic and non-Hispanic heart failure patients with reduced heart function.

· There were no major differences in quality of care among any Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites, regardless of heart function.

· The quality of care at Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure hospitals improved consistently during the five years of the study.

"One possible reason for the survival difference between heart failure patients with preserved heart function is that Hispanics tend to be younger and may not be as sick as hospitalized white heart failure patients," Vivo said. "That could be because Hispanics are more likely to have inadequate or no health insurance. So, they are more likely to go to the hospital for their care, versus seeking care in doctors' offices or outpatient clinics."

The finding that hospitals improved their adherence to quality of care guidelines for all heart failure patients, regardless of ethnic background, is encouraging, according to Vivo.

"The study suggests that participation in quality of care initiatives, such as Get With The Guidelines, is a positive step toward reduction in healthcare disparities, in terms of delivering quality of care to all heart failure patients," he said.

In future studies, researchers should focus on what happens to heart failure patients from diverse ethnic groups after they leave the hospital, such as looking at readmission rates for six months or one year, Vivo said.

Co-authors are Selim R. Krim, M.D.; Nassim R. Krim, M.D.; Xin Zhao, M.S.; Adrian F. Hernandez, M.D., M.H.S.; Eric D. Peterson, M.D., M.P.H.; Ileana L. Piña, M.D., M.P.H.; Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., M.P.H.; Lee H. Schwamm, M.D.; and Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D.

Author disclosures are on the manuscript. The Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure program is provided by the American Heart Association and is currently supported in part by Medtronic and Ortho-McNeil and has been funded in the past through support from GlaxoSmithKline.

Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association's policy or position. The association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

SOURCE: American Heart Association