Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

UI Health recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the achievements and contributions of our community's Hispanic and Latinx members.

In Their Own Words

Some of our employees talk about how they celebrate this month and their culture and honor those that came before them.

How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and what do you look forward to the most? 

It’s the moment to celebrate our impact on our community and recognize and highlight the work ahead to continue progressing

Who are some progressive Hispanic/Latinx Americans that inspire you?  

Roberto Clemente has always been an inspiration for me. He was not only a fantastic athlete but also a humanitarian. He is a Latino who excelled in his sport early on and, at the same time, served as an example of what it means to do the one in greater need.

Does your Hispanic/Latinx culture and heritage empower or motivate parts of your work? If so, how?

Living and working in Chicago allows me the honor to impact the visual health of the Hispanic community of our city. Being able to relate to the specific needs of the Latinos provides a significant advantage in the quality of care I can provide.

What are some of the challenges you've encountered working as a Hispanic/Latinx healthcare professional? What has helped you to navigate and thrive despite them?

I have seen progress, but it has been an uphill battle against stereotypes, denied opportunities, and misconceptions of Latinos. These situations have motivated me, made me resilient, and made me a physician that perseveres. Being a Hispanic physician with a high level of training, I am also a role model. This motivates me to continue opening doors for others, such as continuing mentorship opportunities when available.

Pictured in front of mural at UI Health Pilsen Family Health Center created by local artist, Alejandro Romero.

How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and what do you look forward to the most? 

I celebrate by teaching my children about our rich history and culture. I also teach them about our family's history in Mexico and the Chicago area.

Who are some progressive Hispanic/Latinx Americans that inspire you?  

Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta

Does your Hispanic/Latinx culture and heritage empower or motivate parts of your work? If so, how?

Yes, it definitely does. It is what inspired me to become a physician. I grew up in a health profession shortage area, and it was also very difficult to find doctors who spoke Spanish or understood our culture. This motivated me to become a physician to help train the next generation of Latinx doctors.

What are some of the challenges you've encountered working as a Hispanic/Latinx healthcare professional? What has helped you to navigate and thrive despite them?

During medical school, there were some microaggressions I endured by senior faculty. There were occasional jokes or questions about why I preferred the Spanish pronunciation of my name. While this was upsetting, I made sure to keep my ultimate goal in mind, becoming a physician and did not let this deter me. I was also fortunate to have access to staff at the Hispanic Center of Excellence and Urban Health Program at UIC, who created a safe space to discuss these concerns.

How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and what do you look forward to the most? 

My family and I celebrate a little differently. We don't necessarily have a huge celebration, but we'll wear our traditional blouses or tops and wear them to show and represent our Mexican heritage. We also look forward to attending local festivals for Mexican Independence Day. For instance, we have a 4-day festival and a parade that we participate in our area (which is Cicero).

Who are some progressive Hispanic/Latinx Americans that inspire you?  

Civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. A woman who, throughout her lengthy career, has advocated for workers' rights, women's rights, and Latinx rights. I learned of Her work at the end of the Bracero program (1942-1964) with its unjust and exploitative labor practices, horrible living conditions, and outright racist and sexist violence that the people working under this program were facing. As a granddaughter of someone who worked in this program, I learned firsthand from my grandfather what these conditions were, how they lived, and how disgustingly they were treated. We hear a lot about Cesar Chavez and his role in this movement.

Although he was a significant figure in inciting these changes and was undoubtedly inspiring, Huerta's work as a woman in a time when women were so often disregarded is too impressive not to be inspired by her. Secondly, my parents came from nothing and raised us with very little. They raised us to be hard-working women and reach for the stars. Whereas the traditional beliefs imposed on their generation would require us to marry and raise children after high school, my parents taught us to become the women WE wanted to be. They have supported all our endeavors and been there for us no matter what. They have inspired me to be the woman I am today and to keep fighting for what I believe in.

Does your Hispanic/Latinx culture and heritage empower or motivate parts of your work? If so, how?

Absolutely! Growing up with first-generation, Spanish-speaking immigrant parents, I saw how the medical and social services systems treated them subparly. I remember being 12 years old and accompanying my parents to their appointments to interpret for them, ensure they understood what was being communicated, and ultimately help them navigate better. I remember the professionals they encountered always treated them as less than others. In general, they were not always kind to them when they were looking for support. My motivation to become a Social Worker came from wanting to help change how people are treated and help them navigate these systems more efficiently.

What are some of the challenges you've encountered working as a Hispanic/Latinx healthcare professional? What has helped you to navigate and thrive despite them?

One of the biggest challenges I have faced while working as a Hispanic/Latinx healthcare professional is the need for more resources available in vulnerable communities. I see the need for more support in communities with large percentages of people of color. It's discouraging at times to know we don't always have much to offer patients who might need more support than others, but we try our best and sometimes have to get creative in searching for additional services.

There are times that I have given hours calling multiple agencies to see if these services are offered and checking that they can support our patients. We want them to get help. I wish I could give all my patients the necessary things, but unfortunately, we don't always have somewhere to send them. I think what has helped us is that more and more agencies are broadening their scope of care. More agencies have created a system where if they don't have that particular service, they can help us find these services, cutting the time we spend just looking around for them. As a Social Worker, I aim to help patients get the support they need. Luckily, small agencies and community service providers have made this more possible now than ever before.