Suggestions for Medical Schools with high Latino exposure in community

[dts0240]

Looking for some suggestions on what medical schools to look at that are in hispanic-heavy communities. I have done extensive work with the Latino/Hispanic population during my four years of undergrad, and I'm extremely interested in eventually practicing in an American Latino community. Also, I feel that my application would be looked on especially favorably at schools like this.

For example, I know that Indiana University SOM offers a "Medical Spanish Section for Indianapolis students interested in becoming bilingual providers."

Anyone aware of other schools that offer programs like this? Suggestions? Thanks!

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[drizzt3117]

Miami, many texas schools, University of Arizona (maybe not anymore), schools in CA.

 

[addo]

UT San Antonio, UT Houston, and UT Galveston probably matriculates more hispanic students than all Northeastern med schools combined.... well I might be exaggerating, but percentage wise they have a significantly hispanic class.

 

[krs881]

All the Univ of California SOMs' Prime programs, which focus on underserved communities (and all UCs in general!), but in particular the Prime program at Irvine focuses on the Latino community. There are additional applications for Prime programs, so investigate now.

But really at any urban (and many rural) med school you will find plenty of work and opportunities with hispanic patients -- even if you have to create some of your own, there is definitely a need for medical students like you. Be careful when looking at schools to see if what they say about a "diverse" patient base is actually true. If they are in wealthy areas, suburban, etc it may not be all that true. Check out the affiliated hospitals and their communities.

I know the northeast best and would say Mt. Sinai, Einstein, SUNY Downstate and Columbia would all put you in the heart of (or a couple subway stops from) latino communities in NYC. A lot of schools have medical spanish programs, and free clinics at most schools would probably put you in contact with a lot of hispanic patients.

Good luck!!

 

[KTD]

The Texas schools all serve communities that are largely Spanish speaking. I know Southwestern has a medical Spanish elective and would guess some of the other Texas schools do too. Texas-Tech El paso is right across the border form Jaurez so I would assume your hispanic population there is particularly high. UTHSC San Antonio has the option for you to do all or part of your clinic years at their regional academic health center in Harlingen--the purpose of which is specifically to serve the underserved Hispanic-Americans in the lower Rio Grande Valley region. This sounds pretty much like what you are looking for, but be aware of the low OOS acceptance rates for the Texas schools.

http://rahc.uthscsa.edu/index.asp

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

University of Southern California -- attached to Los Angeles County Hospital where half of the patients are Spanish speaking only.

 

[SweetRain]

TexasTech El Paso FTW

Tech El Paso actually requires you to take Spanish in med school and will place you in classes according to your level of Spanish.
(Having no background in Spanish will not hurt your chances while being fluent may be a plus)

 

[wanderer]

AECOM teaches medical Spanish, and it's either in or near a large Hispanic community.

 

[riceman04]

ummmm...hiiiiiiiii

Definitely apply to UCSD!!!

...Prime program like someone already suggested AND WE ARE 30 MIN FROM THE BORDER!

...In addition we have the largest STUDENT-RUN free clinic system in the nation and the majority of our patients only speak Spanish.

...lastly UCSD will be implementing a new curriculum and "student families" tailored towards further increasing clinical experiences before 3rd year.

Not to toot my own school's horn...but they are really making moves here...This school is already awesome (awesome deans, classmates...well most of them, awesome weather) and is working hard towards gaining even more national recognition for things besides research.

I hope you apply!

btw: here's the link to our student-run free clinic. It is really amazing!

 

[chman]

To be honest, your experience will help you almost anywhere in the country.

 

[SweetRain]

University of Arizona (maybe not anymore)

 

[XVivo]

I know that New York Medical College has their own student-run free clinic in the city that serves a primarily latino community. Also the area around the school seems to have a large percentage of latinos as well.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Einstein and Columbia for sure. And to e-penis compare with NYMC, Columbia has TWO (oooh aah) student run clinics. One for the uninsured in the predominantly Dominican community around the clinic and one for the homeless.

Columbia's patient population at the main campus is also about 60% hispanic.

 

[dts0240]

awesome, thanks for the helpful suggestions. I'm going to check out the programs at the schools you mentioned...unfortunately, it seems as though the Cali programs are tougher-than-average to get into and the Texas ones have low OOS acceptance rates (and there's much more work for the applications). Definitely work checking into. Thanks again!

 

[LizzyM]

Lots of private schools in NYC, Chicago, Boston and many non-English speaking Spanish speakers in those locations.

In places where there are few Spanish speaking professionals, your applications might be looked upon favorablly because you would fill an unmet need.

 

[Dianyla]

In places where there are few Spanish speaking professionals, your applications might be looked upon favorablly because you would fill an unmet need.

This. Up here in the Pacific Northwest there is a growing Latino community, and the availability of Spanish-speaking providers is really lagging behind demand.

 

[dts0240]

This. Up here in the Pacific Northwest there is a growing Latino community, and the availability of Spanish-speaking providers is really lagging behind demand.

Awesome - do you think you could be a bit more specific as far as Pacific Northwest goes? You're meaning Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, etc.?

 

[LizzyM]

Awesome - do you think you could be a bit more specific as far as Pacific Northwest goes? You're meaning Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, etc.?

Yakima Valley, Washington and other areas where there are migrant farm workers.