Q&A: Updates From the NHMA Council of Family Medicine

As part of the agreement, the NHMA established a Council of Family Medicine to expand networking opportunities and help create family medicine-focused programs. Council co-chairs Sara Guevara, M.D., FAAFP, and Francis Guerra-Bauman, M.D., gave AAFP News an update on the Council’s activities in this Q&A.

When we last spoke, you were recruiting members. How has interest been?

There is a notably high interest in joining the Council by many medical students, residents and attending physicians. At various national and regional conferences and family medicine residency program sites, the overwhelming response has been in support of creating a forum and community to bridge NHMA and family medicine interests. 

How is work coming along on key objectives?

To achieve health equity and public health improvements, the process will require a multidisciplinary and multistage approach. One of the major steps is to train and support a healthcare workforce that represents the patient population. In 2020, the U.S Latino/Hispanic population reached 62.1 million — 19% of the American population — and is now the nation’s second largest racial or ethnic group. In 2021, only 7% of all physicians and surgeons identified as Hispanic. Advocacy for health equity, cultural humility and addressing the social determinants of health will be required to bridge this gap.

The guidance and support provided by Council members and expanding networks can help facilitate opportunities and address questions and concerns of underrepresented pre-med students and medical trainees at each stage.

One of the Council’s goals is to establish a mentorship shadowing program for students at earlier stages, including high school. Many underrepresented students may have interests in pursuing medicine, but may not have exposure opportunities or mentors to explore the opportunity. The goal is to provide more shadowing opportunities and mentorship at different career levels to connect students to primary care and family medicine.

Additionally, there is a large need for support of international medical graduates in our community. Through the Council network and events, our goal is to provide support and guidance to navigate the application process and the challenges faced by IMGs.

To increase diversity and representation, the NHMA and AAFP are working on implementing strategies that foster a culture of inclusivity. We are working to develop mentorship programs that connect aspiring Latino/Hispanic family physicians with experienced mentors within NHMA and AAFP, establishing partnership with community organizations and institutions that serve Latino/Hispanic communities to create pipeline programs at various stages of student education to foster their interest in family medicine.

What’s the most significant so far?

We have collaborated with national education and outreach campaigns program within NHMA such as “Vaccinate for All,” raising awareness within the Latino/Hispanic community about vaccinations and with local health care organizations and community groups that work in places with important representation of Latino/Hispanic and African American populations educating the public regarding cancer screening and care, cardiovascular disease and COVID-19. 

What are some challenges?

There are not enough Latino/Hispanic faculty to mentor the new generation of family medicine Latino/Hispanic trainees or young faculty. About 6% of U.S. practicing physicians identify as Hispanic/Latino, and in the 2021 Association of American Medical College’s physician specialty report, a similar percentage of active family physicians identified themselves as Hispanic regardless of race. The Council supports recognizing Oct. 1 as National Latino Physician Day as one way to create awareness of the representation issue. 

What are the Council’s goals?

In the short term, our Council’s goal is to enhance our profile and strengthen our activities and relationships with the AAFP and other organizations that support diversity in family medicine. In the long term, the Council plans to create a portfolio of programs focused on longitudinal support and career development of Latino/Hispanic medical students and residents in family medicine. The Council also wants to work with professional organizations and academic centers to create goals for our members to apply for their professional developmental programs and leadership positions. 

What’s a final thought you’d like to share?

Although systemic change is needed to improve the diversity and representation of Latino/Hispanic individuals in family medicine and in general in the healthcare workforce in our country, we as individuals have the power to improve the current state of learning and working opportunities for enhancing diversity and representation of Latino/Hispanics in medicine. This is an important step in advocacy efforts, with the ultimate goal to help our Spanish-speaking patients to feel safe, understood and cared for.