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HAMSA-- University of Florida College
of Medicine
FOUNDATION STATEMENT
“Of all forms of inequality, injustice in
health care is most
shocking and inhumane.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
PURPOSE:
The Hispanic American Medical Student Association (HAMSA) represents the
interests and ideals of Latino/a medical students as the Southeast regional
division
of the National Network of Latin American Medcal Students (NNLAMS). First
and foremost, the primary mission of HAMSA as a whole is to promote the
improvement of health care for underprivileged and underserved communities.
One of the
fundamental features of contemporary America is its expanding multicultural
diversity. Nationally, racial and ethnic minorities are projected to grow
from 28% at the beginning of the new millennium to nearly 40% in the year
2030. This diversity will remain one of our Nation’s greatest assets.
However, while the overall health of the Nation has improved over the last
two decades, there is compelling evidence that U.S. minority populations
will continue to suffer from escalating differences in the incidence, prevalence,
mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions.
The most striking health disparities include shorter overall life expectancy
as well as higher rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, infant mortality,
birth defects, asthma, diabetes, stroke, sexually transmitted diseases,
and
mental illnesses, among others. Factors which unmistakably contribute to
these health disparities include inequalities in income and education,
and an incomprehensible lack of access to health care.
Challenges in health care delivery also stem from cultural differences,
such as language barriers experienced by Hispanic/Latinos who only speak
Spanish.
Our Nation’s ethnic heterogeneity is propelled by a burgeoning Hispanic
population, where Latinos represent the fastest growing population segment
in the United States. According to the National Census Bureau, Latinos currently
comprise 11% of the U.S. population ; by the year 2020, Latinos will become
the largest minority group in the United States. Coupled with the incredible
rate of growth of Hispanic/Latino communities in the U.S., the fact that
a third of Latinos are uninsured and more than half use the emergency room
as
their primary form of care fuels a staggering health epidemic. Health disparities
which consistently burden Latinos in the United States can also be explained
by interrelated problems between high rates of poverty, lack of access to
educational opportunities, and obstacles to the access and delivery of proper
health care.
A comprehensive national effort to prevent disease, promote health, and deliver
appropriate care must endorse initiatives to reduce health disparities among
racial and ethnic minorities. This effort must include the improvement of
health care infrastructure and the removal of impediments to the delivery
of, and
access to, health care among these populations. HAMSA champions two vital
objectives in combating these progressively prevalent disparities: REPRESENTATION
AND
EDUCATION!
REPRESENTATION:
One of the principle philosophies of HAMSA is to advocate for increased Latino
representation in health related areas. Racial and ethnic diversity in the
health professions workforce is imperative for the delivery of quality health
care. Unfortunately, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups make up 21% of
the U.S. population but only 8.6% of the physician population. This lack
of diversity in medicine exacerbates the health disparities which plague
minority populations. For example, communities with large numbers of Latino
residents are four times more likely than other areas to have a shortage
of physicians regardless of community income. In addition, studies show that
minority physicians are more likely to provide care to minority populations,
practice in underserved areas, and/or serve patients from their own ethnic
group. Specifically, Hispanic physicians care for more than twice as many
Hispanic patients as do non-Hispanic physicians. Similarly, Hispanic physicians
see 50% more uninsured patients than do their non-Hispanic white colleagues
and are twice as likely to work in an underserved community. In other words,
greater racial/ethnic diversity among physicians benefits underserved populations
because the minority identity of a physician is often a strong marker for
future service to minority populations. Furthermore, minority physicians
serve as powerful role models and mentors within those communities. Consequently,
the anemic levels of minority physicians aggravate health care access and
delivery problems in both minority and low socioeconomic patient populations.
In order to develop a health care workforce that can improve the health
status of all Americans and adequately meet the needs of the poor and
other minorities,
initiatives must be set forth to ensure access to physicians who reflect
this nation’s increasingly diverse patient population. Medical schools have
the distinct responsibility of recruiting and educating a group of students
who will best meet the future health care needs of society. Nevertheless, although
Latinos represent the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, this
country’s national demographics do not correlate with the number of Latinos
in medical school classrooms. In 1997, only 6.6% of this Nation’s medical
student body were Latinos. Alarmingly, the same year experienced an 11% drop
in minority student applicants and a 7% decrease in enrollment. Coupled with
the fact that Latinos comprise less than 3% of the physician population, the
dramatic decline of Latino medical student applicants compounds this mounting
health epidemic. In order to reverse this discouraging trend, one of HAMSA’s
missions is to recruit Latino students into medical education in order to benefit
the community through the health profession. The realization of this endeavor
will only be sufficiently achieved by targeting students at all levels of their
education. We must find a way to create equal opportunities for minority children
in the midst of the demographic reality of a swelling underrepresented minority
population; one that has significantly lower levels of academic achievement
instigated by a variety of socioeconomic factors. Efforts to increase the size
and academic preparation of the minority medical student applicant pool through
systemic educational reforms generate a long-term solution to the problem of
minority underrepresentation. For example, student-run programs and workshops
will be directed at mentoring pre-medical students; varying outreach programs
will also be geared towards a relentless focus on improving fundamental academic
skills of minority students at the kindergarten through high-school level thereby
enhancing their chances of successfully applying and enrolling into medical
school.
Once Latino students are accepted into the medical community,
the role of HAMSA shifts towards fostering an enriching environment which
facilitates
close relationships. HAMSA will provide a support network of Latino students
not only at the local university level, but also at a regional and national
level with the united voice represented by NNLAMS. In addition to sparking
discussion about minority health issues, HAMSA will also encourage the
development of elective courses at medical schools in order to better prepare
its students
(the future physicians of America) to become high quality health care providers
serving its community. Through our efforts and the support of all other
organizations committed to the improvement of health care delivery to Latino
communities,
it is our desire to mold LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE!!!EDUCATION:
The approach of educating and sensitizing the entire
medical community to the specific needs and differences of Latinos regarding
health and human
well being
is as integral as recruiting members of this culturally unique population
into
the health profession. However, it is evident that extensive problems have
materialized in the delivery of effective health care. Because the explicit
lack of awareness about cultural differences vastly contribute to this
dilemma, the novel challenge which face tomorrow’s physician includes the need
to understand how societal, cultural, and economic factors influence the health
and perception of their patients, and the patterns in which they seek out health
care and respond to medical services. In conjunction with the intensifying
cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity in the U.S., the current shortage of
culturally diverse physicians mandates that ALL clinicians be prepared to care
for a diverse population since the fundamental aspects of illness and disease
vary by culture. In other words, health care practitioners must face the escalating
challenge of recognizing patients’ culturally defined expectations
of the heath care system and facilitating the delivery of health care that
is
individualized to take into account cultural and socioeconomic factors.
Therefore, medical schools in the United States must meet their societal
obligations
to support and embrace diversity, and educate a culturally competent physician
work force.
By definition, cultural competence is a “process that requires individuals
and systems to develop and expand their ability to be educated about, be sensitive
to, and have respect for cultural diversity. The result of this process should
be an increased awareness, valuing, acceptance, and utilization of and openness
to learn from general and health-related beliefs, practices, traditions, languages,
religions, histories, and current needs of individuals and the cultural groups
to which they belong. Essential to cultural competency is appropriate and effective
communication which requires the willingness to listen and learn from members
of diverse cultures and the provision of services and information in appropriate
languages, at appropriate comprehension and literacy levels, and in the context
of individual’s cultural health beliefs and practices.” An
indispensable attribute of culturally competent physicians can be characterized
by the
academic and personal skills that allow them to identify, respect, and
appreciate the
lifestyles, beliefs, values, and the health practices and behaviors of
their patients across language and cultural barriers.
“Learning” cultural competency, however,
will require much more than a sterile implementation of a new curriculum at medical
schools across the country.
In order to develop a greater degree of sensitivity to the cultural distinctions
of minority populations, medical students and faculty from diverse racial and
ethnic backgrounds must teach the medical community about the cultures, beliefs,
and values of their own communities. In effect, it is our hope that promoting
awareness about social, political, and economic issues as related to Latino health
will foster the development of culturally competent physicians rewarded with
the tools necessary to provide appropriate care to an increasingly diverse patient
population.
SUMMARY:
Through representation and education, the students who embrace the ideals of
the Hispanic American Medical Student Association vow to proactively work
to eliminate health disparities and improve the status of Latino health by
encouraging the diversity and cultural competence of the health care profession.
HAMSA will continue to address the composition and instruction of the physician
workforce so that the most vulnerable people in our society have access to
culturally competent health care in the 21st century. The U.S. health care
system’s ability to provide quality care for all Americans in the future
hinges on our committed desire to confront and engage these arduous challenges.......
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