This spring, the UW Office of Healthcare Equity, Doctor for a Day (DFAD) program partnered with the Latino Surgical Society (LSS) during their Annual Symposium on Latino Health to introduce local underrepresented students to careers in medicine.
Alejandra Silva Hernández, MPH, a second-year medical student at the University of Washington and 2023–24 co-lead of the Doctor for a Day Program, was selected to deliver a flash talk at the American Medical Women’s Association Conference at Oregon Health & Science University on August 16, 2025.
Her talk showcased the impact of embedding service activities like Doctor for a Day into identity-based affinity group conferences, drawing inspiration from the successful collaboration with the Latino Surgical Society’s Surgical Symposium on Latino Health, hosted at the University of Washington in May 2024.
DFAD welcomes physicians, residents, and medical student volunteers who lead hands-on activities and share their personal journeys with K–12 students from schools across the state. The program aims to empower underrepresented students, many without prior exposure to healthcare professionals, to envision themselves in medical careers. By engaging role models who reflect their identities and experiences, DFAD helps strengthen pathways for underrepresented youth into healthcare.
Together, they are working to create a more diverse and equitable healthcare workforce while inspiring the next generation of physicians.
Article written by Jasleen Kaur Binning, WIHSE Intern.
