The Latino Medical Student Association unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.
Our vision is: Unifying Medical Students to promote Latino health.
Part of our objectives include:
- To unify all Latino medical students into one organization
- To provide a voice for underrepresented medical students
- To actively promote recruitment and retention of Latino students at all levels
- To educate medical students on Latino health issues
- To advocate for the rights of Latinos in health care
- To provide leadership opportunities for Latinos
- To promote volunteerism in the Latino community
LMSA is dedicated to changing the ‘Face of Medicine’ and the way health care is delivered in our country. According to the 2004 US Census, 14.2% of the U.S. population, but only 6.4% of all medical graduates are Latino (AAMC Minorities in Medical Education, 2005 Facts & Figures). Though the proportion of Latino physicians has doubled since 1980, there is nonetheless an average ratio of 3,000 Latino patients to one Latino physician compared to the ratio of 335 non-Latino patients to one non-Latino physician.
LMSA considers this a priority. For over 20 years, our membership has continued to grow. However, there is much work to be done. As we review the projected census data for 2050, we find that building a strong foundation in medical training programs is paramount, as 25% of the U.S. population will be Latino. We hope you will partner in our efforts.