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Women in Medicine x Hispanic Heritage Month: Reflections of a Latina Physician

Mary Morales, MD

Each September and October, we celebrate Women in Medicine and Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s a time to reflect on history, celebrate progress, and look ahead with optimism for continued growth and excellence. For me, this season offers a moment of personal reflection on the journey that brought me into medicine.

I am a Latina physician from a low-income, first-generation background. Growing up, I helped manage family finances, served as an interpreter, and often acted as an advocate for my loved ones. Much of my childhood was spent navigating the healthcare system on behalf of my youngest sibling, who was born with Down Syndrome and faced numerous health challenges that required ongoing medical attention and several surgical procedures.

These early experiences revealed the complexity and, at times, inaccessibility of our healthcare system. Even individuals with education and resources can find it challenging to navigate. For families like mine, the barriers were even greater. We faced obstacles including being non-English speakers, limited financial means, poor health literacy, and skepticism toward conventional medical practices.

These challenges shaped my perspective and inspired a deep appreciation for healthcare providers who go the extra mile to understand and support their patients. Today I strive to be that kind of physician, the one I would have looked up to as a child. I am proud to be a board-certified Latina anesthesiologist. One who is fluent in English and Spanish and committed to delivering high quality, compassionate care. Further, I am honored to be one of the few Latina anesthesiologists in academic medicine.

Over the years, there has been measurable progress in the involvement of women in academic medicine, both as faculty and in leadership positions. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), women now make up 45% of all full-time faculty in U.S. medical schools. This is a notable increase from 38% over the last decade. Among full-time faculty under the age of 50, women represent 51%.1 A rise in the percentage of women in leadership position has also occurred, albeit slow. From 2013 to 2023, the percentage of women who are full professors rose from 21% to 29%, and the percentage of women department chairs rose from 15% to 25%.1In anesthesiology, however, growth has been slower.In anesthesiology, women make up 37% of full-time faculty, 23% of full professors, and 18% of department chairs.1

There has also been growth for Hispanics in academic anesthesiology over the past several decades, based on a review of AAMC data from 1977 to 2021. The percentage of anesthesiology faculty who identify as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin has increased from 1.2% to 5.2% since the 1970s.2However, this growth has been less evident at the senior academic level. For instance, the percentage of full professors from these backgrounds rose only slightly, from 1.2% to 1.6%, over the past four decades.2 These modest gains stand in contrast to broader demographic trends, as the percentage of U.S. residents identifying as Hispanic increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.1% in 2020.2

We can expect further growth in the number of physicians who identify as female and/or Hispanic as more students from a wide range of backgrounds enter medical school and residency programs. Recent data from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) showed that during the 2023-2024 academic year 48.6% of residents and fellows across all specialties and subspecialties identified as female and 10% as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin.3This was an increase from 45.1% and 6.1% in the 2019-2020 academic year, respectively.3, 4 Additionally, 4.9% of current trainees across all specialties and subspecialties identify as both female and Hispanic.3Anesthesiology-specific data shows that 36.9% of residents identify as female and 8.5% as Hispanic, with 3.2% identifying as both.3These figures highlight that while there has been progress for women and Hispanics in medicine, there is still need for continued improvement.  

As we reflect on the progress made, it’s important to recognize that our work is far from finished. The medical profession must continue to strengthen its ability to meet the needs of all communities. Patients benefit from providers who understand the complexities of the healthcare system. Especially when language, education, and socioeconomic factors create barriers to care. Phyiscians who understand these challenges are better equipped to deliver effective, compassionate care. Supporting the development of future physicians and leaders who bring a broad range of experiences and perspectives remains essential. Our shared goal remains clear: to improve patient outcomes and ensure high-quality care across all communities.

References:

  1. Lautenberger DM, Dandar VM. The State of Women in Academic Medicine 2023-2024: Progressing Toward Equity. Washington, DC: AAMC; November 2024.
  2. Mazhar L, Ding J, Siddiqi J, Tiwana S, Mariano ER, Nwokolo OO, Hussain M, Khosa F. Faculty Diversity Trends in Academic Anesthesiology by Demographics in the United States, 1977-2021. Anesth Analg. 2025 Aug 4. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007680. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40758587.
  3. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. ACGME Data Resource Book: Academic Year 2023- 2024. Chicago, IL: ACGME; 2024. https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/pfassets/publicationsbooks/dataresourcebook2023-2024.pdf.
  4. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. ACGME Data Resource Book: Academic Year 2019-2020. Chicago, IL: ACGME; 2020. https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/PFAssets/PublicationsBooks/2019-2020_ACGME_DATABOOK_DOCUMENT.pdf.
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