National Latino
Physician Day ™
October 1st!
Día Nacional de los Médicos Latinos ™
Primero de Octubre
Follow NLPD!
Representation Heals
NLPD Mission Statement:
To address the Latino physician shortage crisis, the mission of National Latino Physician Day is to improve the quality of care for the United States Latino patient population by increasing the number of Latino physicians who provide culturally and linguistically concordant care.
6% is not enough.
#nationallatinophysicianday
#nationallatinaphysicianday
#nationallatinxphysicianday
Did you know that only 6% of physicians are Latino or Latina in the United States, despite the country being made up of 19% Latino? California has an even higher Latino population reaching 40% with further increases projected to 50% by the year 2050. There are significant health care barriers, inequalities, and poorer outcomes in the Latino/Hispanic population. Having Latinos better represented in medicine is necessary for our communities and for the future of medicine in the United States.
Help us create awareness of this crisis and the need for more Latino and Latina Doctors by helping us celebrate National Latino Physician Day (NLPD) across the country on October 1st!
National Latino Physician Day 2025 highlights three urgent issues:
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Worsening United States physician shortage, projected to reach up to 86,000 doctors by 2036, exacerbated by student loan caps, research funding cuts, and dismantled pipeline programs that disproportionately affect underrepresented students.
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Historic Medicaid cuts, reducing coverage for millions, including one in three Latinos who rely on Medicaid, placing safety-net hospitals and community clinics at risk while destabilizing the entire healthcare system.
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Expansion of immigration enforcement, with increased immigration raids and access to Medicaid data has created a climate of fear that prevents Latino patients from seeking care.
These combined crises threaten to further reduce access to culturally and linguistically concordant care, making the mission of NLPD more urgent than ever.
Advocacy
Designating National Latino Physician Day:
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 128 (2023 - 2024)
California Latino and Latina Physician Day
Introduced by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula
https://legiscan.com/CA/text/ACR128/id/2892297
United State Congress Resolution 734 (2023 - 2024)
Introduced by Dr. Raul Ruiz and Dr. Yadira Caraveo
https://legiscan.com/US/text/HR734/2023
United States Senate 389 (2023 - 2024)
Introduced by Senator Alex Padilla and Senator John Cornyn
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/389/all-actions
• NLPD efforts presented in the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Hearing: "What Can Congress Do to Address the Severe Shortage of Minority Health Care Professionals and the Maternal Health Crisis?"
Please download Dr. Michael Galvez Testimony here. Please watch the testimony here.
• Scientific American 2024: “To Diversify Medicine Post–Affirmative Action, Look to Community Colleges”
Proclamations
2023:
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Santa Clara County, California (Dr. Lee Anna Botkin, Dr. Judith Sanchez, Dr. Rachel Ruiz, Leilani Jones)
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San Jose (Dr. Antonia Zazueta Charles)
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Bell Gardens (Dr. Mariela Garcia)
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Jurupa Valley (Dr. Veronica Contreras)
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Maywood, California (Dr. Mariela Garcia)
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Pasadena, California (Dr. Connie Casillas)
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Orange County, California (Dr. Jose Mayorga)
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Irvine, California (Dr. Lourdes González Bahamonde)
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Rockford, Illinois (Dr. Emma Olivera)
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Chicago, Illinois (Dr. Emma Olivera)
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Peoria, Illinois (Karina Favela)
2024:
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Miami, Florida (Dr. Lorena Bonilla)
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Coachella, California (Dr. Mariela Magana Ceballos)
2025:
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Yolo County (Eric Arauza, Dr. Daniel Trevizo, Dr. Adryanna Corral-Trevizo)
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Reno, Nevada (Dr. Jose Ricardo Cucalon, Dr. Maria Fernandez)
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San Antonio, Texas (LMSA)
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New York (Columbia The VP&S Latino Association)
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New York (Montefiore Einstein)
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State of Illinois (Dr. Emma Olivera)
2025 Media
Latino representation in medicine makes a difference, says UCI Health expert
https://www.ucihealth.org/about-us/news/2024/10/latino-physician-day
Former HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra to Speak Before Hundreds of Latino Physicians, Other Professionals at NHMA Conference
Medicaid cuts may disproportionately affect Black, Latino doctors and their patients
A Celebration of National Latino Physician Day
https://keck.usc.edu/calendar/event/a-celebration-of-national-latino-physician-day/
AAMC Recognizes Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD, with 2025 ACE Award
H.Res.745 - Expressing support for the designation of October 1 as "National Latino and Latina Physician Day".
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/745?s=1&r=2
How Language Concordance Elevates Care for Hispanic Patients
Living the American Dream: Dr. Payares-Lizano’s Path to Healing
Beyond aesthetics: Dr. Abigail Rodriguez's approach to restoring confidence
Latinos tienen baja representación en la medicina: implicaciones para la comunidad
VC Star: Guest column: Celebrating National Latino Physicians Day Dr. Felix L. Nunez and Dr. James F. Cruz
The Pulse: Just 6% of U.S. Physicians Are Latino — Advocates Say That Must Change
https://news.valleychildrens.org/just-6-of-u-s-physicians-are-latino-advocates-say-that-must-change/
Washington State Medical Association: Celebrating National Latino Physician Day 2025
https://vimeo.com/1123336229?fl=pl&fe=sh
Hacen falta médicos latinos en la comunidad del condado de Orange
Latinos tienen baja representación en la medicina: implicaciones para la comunidad
Charles R. Drew University Works to Increase Number of Spanish-Speaking Doctors
Representation Heals: Charles R. Drew University Marks National Latino Physician Day
Need for More Latino Doctors Highlighted at UC Merced Event
https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/need-more-latino-doctors-highlighted-uc-merced-event
Necesitamos más
NLPD was initiated by concerned Latina and Latino doctors worried about the future of medicine in the United States for our diverse patient populations.
Action Items
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
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Design and wear a T-shirt! Create awareness by creating a T-shirt for your organization and local community. More information to come on our website for available T-shirts.
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Share information about NLPD! Share this document with your friends or colleagues that are Latino/a/x physicians or surgeons, allies, and share this with your hospital/group.
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Ask your organization to endorse NLPD. Ask your hospital, physician group or organization to join us by officially recognizing NLPD on October 1st. Organizations can endorse NLPD through a press release, donation, Grand Rounds dedicated to NLPD, sponsoring NLPD swag (shirts, etc.), and various other ways to promote the day. Let us know if your organization has officially endorsed NLPD and we will celebrate them by adding them to the official list.
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Post on social media! Create awareness about the day! Post a selfie or photo of you and your friends/family! Post a video about why this date is important to you! Tag others that you think would be interested, please include us and we will also promote. Us the hashtags: #nationallatinophysicianday #nationallatinaphysicianday
#nationallatinxphysicianday
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Celebrate on October 1st! Celebrate by creating a local event/gathering, involve your local media outlets, create a news release about your event, involve marketing, and post on social media.
NLPD Partners
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CONTACT
We need this day to celebrate and to highlight the fact that we need more Latino doctors! Help us make a difference for our community.
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