The Hispanic Health Workforce Gap: Creating Fellowship Programs to Achieve Health Equity

Abstract: This is a conference paper authored by Michelle Quinteros de Czifra< HSHPS and Suzanne M. Randolph, MayaTech Corporation and is part of the 2013 Advancing the STEM Agenda Conference proceedings.

The nation faces a shortage of Hispanic health professionals that can provide quality and culturally competent healthcare to their community, the largest ethnic group in the United States (US). By 2050, Hispanics will comprise 29 percent of the US population. Yet, minorities only constitute less than 18 percent of physicians, nurses, and dentists. To meet the challenge of providing access and better care to Hispanics, the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS) developed and implemented a Graduate Fellowship Training Program (GFTP) to increase the number of Hispanic students going into health professions careers through enhancing their research and professional development skills and provide networking opportunities. An overview of the importance of increasing the Hispanic health professions workforce, key findings of the GFTP and the role that other national STEM organizations like HSHPS can play to diversify the health professions workforce are presented.

Keywords: STEM - Conference Proceedings - Student Support