Our celebration of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month begins on Monday, Sept. 16, with a flag raising at noon on UW Medicine hospital campuses. During this month, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, we recognize the contributions of Americans whose family origins are in Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This observance begins mid-month to coincide with the independence days (Sept. 15 – Sept. 18) of multiple countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.
Americans of Hispanic and Latinx descent represent 19.5% of the U.S. population, 14.6% of Washington state’s population, and belong to communities that are highly diverse, encompassing a wide range of ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
At UW Medicine, we seek to improve access to quality care by fostering a culturally competent environment that respects an individual’s needs. Here are two examples of programs specifically designed to meet the needs of our Hispanic and Latinx patients:
- The mission of UW Medicine’s Latinx Diabetes Clinic is to eliminate disparities in diabetes care by addressing linguistic and cultural barriers. The Hispanic and Latinx community in the state of Washington is the largest and fastest-growing group and is disproportionately affected by diabetes. Since the clinic’s inception in Nov. 2020, the bilingual staff – led by Dr. Lorena Alarcon-Casas Wright – has supported community health fairs, screening events, clinical research, medical residents and endocrinology fellows rotations, and over 400 patient visits.
- Mi Salud/Nuestra Salud (My Health/Our Health) – launched in the fall of 2023 by Dr. Leo Morales – serves as a new community cardiometabolic screening project, an extension of the Adios COVID project, administered through the Latino Center for Health. This initiative collaborates with grassroots Latinx-serving community-based organizations throughout Washington state to provide preventive health screenings and services for diabetes, hypertension, lipids, and obesity, and offers healthy living counseling and medical care referrals. Seventy-five percent of patients served speak primarily Spanish.
At UW Medicine, we are committed to advancing a culture that is welcoming and inclusive of the diverse experiences and heritages that are represented by the Hispanic and Latinx diaspora. You can learn more about the rich histories, cultures and contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities on The Huddle’s Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month page. You can also add digital assets celebrating the month to your email signature or Zoom background. Year round, UW Medicine’s Office of Healthcare Equity sponsors the Hispanic and Latinx Affinity Group and offers regular events, talks and training on the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and justice.
Thank you for joining us in honoring and celebrating our Hispanic and Latinx colleagues and patients.
Sincerely,
Timothy H. Dellit, MD (He, Him, His)
Chief Executive Officer, UW Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Paul G. Ramsey Endowed Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
Paula L. Houston, EdD (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Equity Officer
Office of Healthcare Equity, UW Medicine
Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Bessie A. Young, MD (She, Her, Hers)
Vice Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Healthcare Equity
UW Medicine Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine,
University of Washington
Brad Simmons (He, Him, His)
President, UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Jacqueline Cabe (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Financial Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Becca Kelly (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Advancement Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Anneliese Schleyer, MD (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Medical Officer, UW Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs,
University of Washington
Cindy Hecker (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
UW Medical Center
Sommer Kleweno Walley (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
Harborview Medical Center
Jeannine Erickson Grinnell (She, Her, Hers)
Chief Executive Officer
Valley Medical Center
Erica Floyd (She, Her, Hers)
Interim Executive Director
UW Physicians
Pranika Laing (She, Her, Hers)
Associate Administrator
UW Medicine Primary Care and Population Health
Jeff Richey (He, Him, His)
Associate Administrator
Airlift Northwest
Lab Medicine, Pathology and Telecommunication
Harborview Medical Center
