Carlos Parra-Herran, MD, was born in Colombia and raised in the country’s capital of Bogota. From his large family of 23 aunts and uncles, and more than 100 cousins, he is the second to go to medical school, and the first to openly identify as gay, which was challenging, he notes, in Colombian culture. Dr. Parra-Herran notes that the adaptability of LatinX people has aided them in facing—and overcoming—challenges, and the cultural diversity within the community is a strength to be lauded. Here he shares insight on fostering better understanding of LatinX patients in healthcare and more.
What do we have yet to do to accomplish and how can we accomplish that?
I think we need to acknowledge that the LatinX community has historically harbored discrimination. There is a lot of racism and sexism within our culture, and in my opinion, this has been largely untapped because in the U.S. we are another minority. So, we are often the victims of an unequal system/society but fail to recognize our role as perpetrators. We need to work on that.
What do you want people to know about your culture and its contributions to society?
People with LatinX heritage are hardworking, committed individuals. We place family and friends very high in our priority list, but also responsibility and accomplishment. That makes us dependable, innovative, and energetic. Also, LatinX individuals living in the U.S. have made efforts and sacrifices to be here: many of us had to learn English late in life and had to leave our loved ones back home. Nonetheless, we are adaptable and face challenges with optimism. Lastly, Latin America is such a diverse region, that within our LatinX community there is already a lot of inherent diversity. That is a strength.
What are the health myths in the LatinX culture? How does that play out in terms of access to care?
Language barriers often create a perception that LatinX patients are poorly informed, poor communicators, or poorly compliant, which is many times inaccurate and discriminating. Most LatinX people I know, in the U.S. and back home, are educated and compliant patients that trust science and want to have an open, dependable relationship with their healthcare providers. If language is identified as a barrier, identifying a good translator from the beginning is key.
Many LatinX communities rely on alternative medicines or have traditions and beliefs that deviate from Western medicine. I think healthcare providers need to be cognizant that these beliefs exist, and respect them while advocating for the care we are trained to provide.
How can the health professionals widen their understanding about LatinX communities?
Look beyond the stereotypes portrayed in the media. Have a conversation with a LatinX colleague or co-worker. Chances are, your workplace has at least one. Spend a bit of extra time with your LatinX patients. Ask them about their day, their culture, their family—not with a mere tone of curiosity, but with genuine interest to learn and appreciate. In other words, get a true glimpse at the richness of LatinX culture through the people that are already part of your community and your workplace.
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