Developing a Diverse Pipeline and Strengthening California’s Future Health Care Workforce
Latinx Physicians of California has been aware of the growing disparity between the number of Latinx health care providers and the growing number of Latinx patients, and we have partnered with Alliance in Mentorship/MíMentor and Latino Medical Students Association to address this issue since our founding in 2011. In April 2021, LPOC hosted its first Summit, a forum discussing California’s future health care workforce, increasing diversity and creating a stronger pipeline through college and medical school.
2021 LPOC Summit: A Forum on California’s Future Health Care Workforce
This event featured discussion on California’s future health care workforce, increasing diversity and creating a stronger pipeline through college and medical school. Featured guests and discussion participants included UC President Dr. Michael V. Drake, UC Health Executive Vice President Dr. Carrie L. Byington, 31st District Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula, California Health Care Foundation President/CEO Dr. Sandra Hernández, MiMentor/Alliance In Mentorship CEO Griselda Aguilar, LMSA-West, Northern CEO Dr. Karina Diaz and Blue Shield of CA Medical Director and LPOC Board Member Dr. James Cruz.
LPOC Symposium: Creating a Movement for Change
The LPOC Symposium “Creating a Movement for Change 2016,” was fueled by the needs identified in the LPNAS Report. The Report’s findings were released at the Symposium and discussed among top leaders from across the state. In addition, health disparity and its significance to Latinx physicians and the communities they serve was also a major topic.
Featured speakers included:
Jose Alberto Arevalo, MD, FAAFP, Board Chair, Latinx Physicians of California, Senior Medical Director, Sutter Health Independent Physicians
Joaquin Arambula, MD, California Assemblyman, 31st District
Sergio Aguilar Gaxiola, MD, PhD, Vice Chair Latinx Physicians of California, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Director of Center for Reducing Health Disparities, UC Davis School of Medicine
Sandra Hernandez, MD, Chief Executive Officer California Healthcare Foundation
Efrain Talamantes, MD, MBA, Latinx Physicians of California Legacy Leader, Associate Director Center for Reducing Health Disparities, UC Davis School of Medicine
Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD, Representing California’s 36th District
2016 Latino Physician Needs Assessment Survey and Report
In 2015, LPOC hosted focus groups, held special meetings and interviewed the leading Latinx physicians across the state to determine the key issues of concern, including the future diversity of California’s health care pipeline. The results were published in 2016 as the Latino Physician Needs Assessment Survey Report (LPNAS), which was presented at the 2016 Symposium.
Click here to read the full report >>
Alliance in Mentorship / MiMentor
LPOC has been a key resource of mentors for the AIM/MíMentor Medical School Readiness (“MSR”) Cohorts. The MSRs take place each year and offer LPOC members the opportunity to volunteer for one-on-one mentoring, hosting small breakout groups and/or conducting mock interviews of MSR students.
Latino Medical Student Association
The Latino Medical Student Association (“LMSA”) has been another LPOC Affiliate since 2011, and a seat is reserved on the LPOC Board of Directors for the LMSA-West Chairperson. This affiliation has been important in building awareness at LPOC as well as at LMSA.
