Addressing Health Equity and Racism Through a Hispanic Psychiatry Fellowship

Psychiatr Serv. 2022 Sep 1;73(9):1061-1064. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100220. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Abstract

The scarcity of bilingual psychiatrists, as well as appropriate mental health services for populations with limited English proficiency, has led to inequitable health outcomes. A fellowship program was developed, which draws from a clinical model staffed by bilingual (Spanish-English) professionals from racial-ethnic minority groups, to address access to care and the structural determinants of health. This new Hispanic Psychiatry Fellowship focuses on health inequality and racism in policy and leadership, clinical care for Spanish-speaking patients, cultural psychiatry, recovery, forensics, substance use, and education. This column describes the program's development, first 2 years of implementation, and feasibility indicators for use in creating similar programs.

Keywords: Cross-cultural issues; Hispanics; Racial-ethnic disparities; Racism; Structural racism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ethnicity
  • Fellowships and Scholarships
  • Health Equity*
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Minority Groups
  • Psychiatry*
  • Racism*
  • United States