Abstract
Background: 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.
Methods: 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. Additionally, this
article demonstrates how our partnership with LULAC facilitated each of
the activities we organized by enhancing public awareness, increasing
available resources, and enabling community partnerships with local
businesses and media outlets.
Results: Since the organization was established in 2017, 87
students from the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health
Professions have become UAMS LULAC members. Together they screened 194
uninsured Hispanic patients at health fairs, mentored pre-medical
students at local colleges, and designed and implemented the curriculum
for a medical Spanish course in which 64 students participated.
Conclusion: 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.