LOS ANGELES — National Latino Physician Day shines a spotlight on the critical shortage of Latino doctors in the U.S.

With Latinos making up nearly 19% of the population but only 6% of the country’s physicians, this gap has led to significant health care disparities.

The mission of this day is to raise awareness about increasing Latino representation in medicine, ensuring that Latino communities receive culturally and linguistically appropriate care, and fostering a future where health outcomes for these communities are significantly improved.