Survey reveals ‘disproportionate barriers’ to success among Latina physicians
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Key takeaways:
- Three main themes emerged from the survey, including barriers to capital, discrimination and mental health challenges.
- Most survey respondents reported questioning their place in medicine.
Latinas in the U.S. medical system experience disproportionate barriers and discriminatory behaviors from colleagues and patients, according to results of an online survey.
There remains a “need for the reform in medical education to promote an inclusive culture and provide adequate mentorship to marginalized trainees,” researchers concluded.
Stagnant
“Despite increased recruitment of Latina medical students, the percentage of Latina physicians has remained stagnant, suggesting unique retentive barriers affecting this population,” Kelly Meza, MD, internal medicine resident at Baylor College of Medicine, told Healio. “This study was driven by the need to better understand the unique retentive barriers and challenges faced by Latina medical trainees and professionals during their training. Addressing these issues is essential for cultivating a supportive and inclusive health care environment, which ultimately enhances patient outcomes and strengthens the medical profession.”
Between June 22 and Aug. 12, 2022, researchers distributed an anonymous online survey to Latinas enrolled in or graduated from medical school, residency or fellowship in the United States during the previous decade. They conducted thematic analyses on 602 responses to seven open-ended survey questions.
Emerging themes
Three main themes emerged from the survey:
- barriers associated with limited cultural, social and financial capital;
- reported experiences of bias, discrimination and perceptions of being undervalued; and
- experiences of notable mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.
In addition, researchers found that most respondents “questioned their place in medicine throughout training and the value of the sacrifice and trauma endured.”
“These data augment our quantitative study findings of how a majority of Latina trainees reported depression, anxiety, feelings of imposter syndrome and burnout throughout training,” Meza said. “Taken together, our findings emphasize the importance of fostering mentorship, addressing barriers and creating inclusive training environments. These measures are critical not only for supporting Latina medical professionals but also for enriching the health care workforce, ensuring it is well equipped to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population.”
Next steps
“This type of research is so important because it gives us a better understanding of what can be contributing to Latinas leaving the medical field or deciding not to pursue a career in medicine in the first place,” Gabriella Geiger, BS, a doctoral candidate at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, told Healio. “The hope is that our findings will amplify the voices of our fellow Latinas in medicine so that medical training institutions can take their unique experiences into account to create a system that better supports and advances Latinas so that they not only feel they belong in medicine but that they excel in medicine.”
Meza said the next steps “involve implementing strategies to address these challenges.”
These include:
- structured mentorship programs — establishing initiatives that connect Latina trainees with experienced professionals for guidance and advocacy;
- cultural competency training — introducing bias-awareness education within medical training to foster collaboration and improve patient care;
- enhanced resource development — providing financial, academic and mental health support to help trainees navigate challenges effectively; and
- institution-specific studies — identifying best practices and evaluating tailored interventions across medical institutions.
“By prioritizing these initiatives, the medical community can build an environment where all trainees, including Latina professionals, are empowered to excel and make meaningful contributions to health care,” Meza said.
For more information:
Kelly Meza, MD, can be reached at jazminmeza95@hotmail.com.
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