On November 6,  UCLA LPPI Faculty Expert, Glenda Flores, an associate professor of Chicano/Latino studies in the School of Social Sciences at UC Irvine, presented research from her new book, The Weight of the White Coat: Latinos Navigating American Medicine.

The event was convened in Sacramento alongside the California Latino Caucus, the California Wellness Foundation, and the offices of Assemblyman Dr. Jasmeet Bains and Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, with guests including legislative staffers and community partners.

Despite making up nearly 40% of California’s population, Latinos only account for 6% of physicians across the state. 

Professor Flores’ research, based on 70 interviews with Latina and Latino physicians practicing across California, reveals critical gaps in California’s physician pipeline and uncovers the narratives behind Latinos’ underrepresentation in the healthcare system.  

Her analysis finds that for every 100 Latina students pursuing a degree in biological science, only one will eventually earn a medical degree. Many aspiring Latino physicians are the first in their families to go to college, often facing financial and structural barriers, limited mentorship, and inadequate financial aid amid the rising cost of medical education, which now averages over $100,000. 

Following Flores’ presentation, she joined a panel discussion featuring Dr. Illan Shapiro from AltaMed Health, Arturo Vargas Bustamante from UCLA LPPI, and Mar Velez from the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC). 

The discussion reminded leaders, staffers, and advocates that cultural competency is essential to addressing the health concerns of all Californians. “Latina physicians deliver culturally competent care that’s indispensable to the communities they serve, yet these skills are routinely uncompensated, tokenized, and taken for granted,” Flores shared. 

Panelists also underscored the importance of investing in pipeline programs that support Latino medical students in their journey to becoming physicians. 

“As a community physician, I remember when medical education was more accessible, not the $100K-a-year barrier that it has become today,” said Dr. Shapiro during the program. “We don’t just need more Latino doctors; we need systems and policies that allow them to stay, to lead, and to serve without burning out. Representation is powerful, but retention and support are what change communities.” 

“Given the political landscape, California needs to focus on how to expand access to care, including telehealth, make it easier for international medical graduates to practice in the U.S., ensure student loans are available for prospective Latino applicants to medical schools,  and strengthen the pipeline for Latino students pursuing their medical degree,” added Bustamante.

One advocacy effort that is already underway is the More Doctors for California campaign, led by the LCHC. Velez, who helped facilitate the panel, is working alongside former LPPI Fellow Nangha Cuadros, who leads this campaign effort as senior policy manager.

As we look to the future of health equity, we are reminded why conversations like this matter. Without the research and data that uplift the lived experiences of Latino physicians, we can’t design systems that work for everyone.