Number of Hispanic Students in Med School Increases

The Chicago-Sun Times (â€Å"Hispanic Students Filling Medical Schools Nationwide†) hbspt.cta.load(58291, '97acf89a-9bbd-40db-8179-9ec9246d5073'); looks at the story of Anthony Acosta, a young Hispanic fourth-year medical student at University of Illinois who is the first member of his family to complete medical school. Acosta is living his family’s dream by becoming a doctor, but he is also fulfilling a larger dream. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the number of Hispanic applicants to American medical schools has increased by 22.9% in the past decade.   Between 2010 and 2011 alone there was a 6% rise in Hispanic applicants. Acosta is one of the growing number of Hispanics now going to medical school. While these percentages of Hispanic applicants seem positive, medical schools still have a long way to go when it comes to serving the Spanish-speaking community.   As a result, medical schools have started taking new measures to improve the diversity of their classrooms. For example, many schools have begun looking at applicants as â€Å"entire students† and not just at their grades and MCAT scores. Other schools have begun to speak to high school students in disadvantaged communities to make them aware of their options at a young age.   In fact, Spanish-language classes are being increasingly offered to young doctors in training to help fulfill the medical needs of the Spanish-speaking community. Yet, a doctor that serves the Hispanic community does not need to be Hispanic. Sunny Gibson, director of diversity at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, explains that one simply needs to â€Å"speak some Spanish† and to show â€Å"patients that you really are there to provide better care.† In the end, being a good doctor comes down to speaking your patient’s language and being empathetic. Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best hbspt.cta.load(58291, '97acf89a-9bbd-40db-8179-9ec9246d5073');