Written By Michael O'Neill

As a profession, as a school, we are committed to our work with vulnerable populations. That extends to the issue of diversity – in our student body, in our workforce, in our faculty. Whether we’re talking about minorities in general or Latinos in particular, there is a persistent gap in nursing that must be addressed by diversifying the workforce – at all levels.

by RAUL A. REYES

Changing demographics will create potential opportunities for Latino workers in the future – but only if Latinos can boost their educational attainment and surmount barriers to career readiness. 

Jacqueline Martinez Garcel is a leader in philanthropy and expert in public health and policy. Last fall she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Latino Community Foundation.

While Latinos comprise 36 percent of the current population in California, only 5 percent of graduate medical education (GME) residents are Latinos.

As students head to college this fall, the world of work might seem a distant prospect, yet for the most recent graduating class, getting a job has been their summer’s task. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the size of this year’s college graduating class could be as high as 20.8 million new job seekers, many of whom have spent their summer looking for a foothold into the job market.