Abstract
In the next 40 years, the Hispanic population will represent 29% of the
U.S. population. Hispanics living in the U.S. face cultural and economic
barriers to receiving healthcare. To address the health disparities
faced by Hispanic populations at the local level, an inter-professional
group of Hispanic students from the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences (UAMS) founded the first League of United Latin American
Citizens (LULAC) at an academic medical center.
This article represents a descriptive guide to the methods we utilized
to establish the organization, the health fairs, a mentoring program,
and a medical Spanish curriculum.
Becoming a LULAC council is an innovative and highly beneficial avenue
for both new and existing Hispanic medical student organizations. By
following a similar methodology, and by partnering with local LULAC
councils and their pre-existing networks, Hispanic student organizations
may also increase their access to support, resources, and volunteers to
ultimately enhance their educational experience and public health
outreach efforts.