{"id":137395,"date":"2023-10-12T15:33:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T19:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=137395"},"modified":"2025-04-16T11:23:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:23:41","slug":"making-a-difference-in-hispanic-healthcare-disparities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/making-a-difference-in-hispanic-healthcare-disparities\/","title":{"rendered":"Making a Difference in Hispanic Healthcare Disparities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hispanics continue to face severe health disparities and UCF\u2019s College of Medicine<\/a> can play a role in easing those challenges, says Caridad Hernandez, chair of medical education, at a recent Hispanic Heritage Month event.<\/p>\n

A 2021 study found that 34% of nonelderly Hispanic residents in the United States do not have a physician \u2014 compared to 18% of African Americans and 16% of Caucasians. This lack of access to care, along with poverty, language challenges, food insecurity and other societal factors \u2014 called the social determinants of health \u2014 lead to higher rates of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, HIV\/AIDS and cancer for Hispanics.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you live \u2013 your zip code \u2014 is the most important determinant of your health, regardless of race or ethnicity,\u201d says Caridad Hernandez, professor in the College of Medicine. \u201cLet\u2019s look at ways that we, as educators, researchers and clinicians, can make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n