Closing the hispanic health workforce gap: Training over 300 fellows through the hispanic-serving health professions schools graduate fellowship training program

The nation faces a shortage of Hispanic health professionals that can provide quality and culturally competent healthcare to their community, the largest ethnic group in the United States (US). By 2050, Hispanics will comprise 29 percent of the US population. Yet, minorities only constitute less than 18 percent of physicians, nurses, and dentists. To meet the challenge of providing access and better care to Hispanics, The National Association of Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS), a nonprofit organization composed of 28 schools of medicine and public health, will share their collaborative work with government agencies and academic institutions to train over 300 fellows through the development and implementation of the HSHPS Graduate Fellowship Training Program (GFTP). The GFTP goals are to increase the number of Hispanic health professionals, enhance research and professional development skills, increase knowledge about Hispanic and other minority health issues, and provide networking opportunities. HSHPS has conducted an evaluation of its GFTP from to assess the extent to which the program met its objectives. The evaluation revealed several lessons learned and best practices in student recruitment, retention, and supportive services that resulted in a high rate of completion of the GTFP. The proposed presentation will provide an overview of the importance of increasing the Hispanic health professions workforce, key findings of the GFTP and the role that other national organizations like HSHPS can play to diversify the health professions workforce.