I am both humbled and honored to write this letter today, not only as a Latina IBD patient, but as a new member of ABIM Gastroenterology Board. Today, on October 1, as we celebrate National Latino Physician Day, it serves as a moment of pride and reflection as a Latina.
We recognize and honor the contributions of Latino physicians at a moment when the system brings its own challenges—systemic bias, lack of inclusive policies, and ultimately the pressures of healthcare. To me, this day is more than just a moment of recognition, but rather it is a powerful reminder of the vital impact you have on patients like me, where cultural understanding and representation in medicine is valued and necessary.
As a Latina living with Crohn’s disease for over 20 years, my IBD journey has been filled with moments of angst, pain, uncertainty, and loneliness. I was diagnosed after five years of confusion and suffering, in a system where I wasn’t being heard or understood. Unbeknownst to me, I was being dismissed due to being a Latina patient. It wasn’t until I encountered an entirely new medical team, and physicians who understood and listened to me as a Latina, that I realized what I had been suffering through unnecessarily. And I do not want others to go through what I did.
Cultural understanding and consideration extend far beyond speaking the same language. It can be as simple as learning about a patient’s cultural norms as to better serve them. Having a physician who understands cultural nuances, language, and lived experiences can make all the difference in patient care. In my case, the trust built with my current healthcare team has given me the confidence to ask questions and advocate for my own health.
And more importantly, it has allowed my family to have a full understanding and direct involvement in my care. In the interactions I’ve had with Spanish-speaking physicians, it has served as an immediate sense of comfort and trust. Oftentimes, it can be just a simple understanding of a patient’s culture that can bring hope and healing. Palabras de aliento (or words of encouragement) mean more than you realize to patients.
Today, as an IBD patient advocate, I know how critical it is for Latino patients to see themselves represented in the healthcare system. Latino physicians hold a unique and irreplaceable role in our healthcare system. It’s not just about medical expertise, but rather it’s about cultural competency, empathy, and the ability to connect with patients on a deeper level. For many of us in the Latino community, seeing a doctor who understands our language, our traditions, and our backgrounds can be the difference between feeling heard and feeling invisible.
As a new member of the ABIM Gastroenterology Specialty Board, I am encouraged and motivated to continue to support the growth of Latino physicians. Your contributions are absolutely essential—from clinical research to patient care—you are the way for health outcomes for underrepresented populations to improve.
The challenges faced by Latino physicians do not go unnoticed, and your perseverance and dedication beyond those challenges brings inspiration to the next generation. The Latino community faces significant healthcare disparities and limited access to culturally competent care, but all that you are doing helps to close these gaps.
On this National Latino Physician Day, I urge all of you to continue breaking barriers, and to serve as role models for future Latino physicians. And to everyone reading this, I hope you will also be open to realizing the challenges faced by Latino physicians, and more importantly, that you will support and encourage more Latinos to enter the field of medicine. Our healthcare system is stronger, more compassionate, and more effective because of Latino physicians and my genuine hope is to see your presence grow.
From one Latina to another, I want you to know how much your work matters. I see you, I am grateful for you, and I stand with you. As both a Crohn’s disease patient, IBD patient advocate and now a member of the ABIM Gastroenterology Specialty Board, I will continue to advocate for greater diversity in medicine because I know firsthand how much we, as patients, benefit from your care.
Muchas gracias por todo lo que hacen. Thank you very much for all you do.
Together, I hope we can continue to shape a future where every single patient, regardless of background, can feel truly seen and understood.
With deepest gratitude,
Rocio Castrillon