From the Clinic to the Polls: Why Voting Matters for Latino Medical Professionals

Abstract

There is a well-established connection between voting and health as referenced by the American Medical Association (American Medical Association n.d.). However, the Latino electorate continues to face suppression, a challenge that also affects Latino medical professionals and students. Latino medical professionals are a critical part of the healthcare delivery system, often serving patients who share their ethnicity (Hutchinson, Davis, & Mulligan, 2010). Latino medical professionals play a crucial role in representing the needs of the Latino community, not only in healthcare delivery but also in shaping policy decisions that impact the health of their communities. In this article, the authors highlight the persistent barriers to voting faced by Latino medical professionals and their impacts on community health. The authors offer tangible solutions, which aim to reduce voting barriers and promote civic health within the Latino medical community, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding policies that provide time off to vote.