Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More. Celebrate Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month in September.
From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, we celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month by recognizing the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities.
This year’s theme is: “Unidos, Somos Más. Together, We Are More,” which celebrates the diverse stories, perspectives and experiences that strengthen the U.S. Learn more about the history of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month along with community events and resources. In honor of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, we are looking forward to spotlighting the Latino Center for Health which was recently featured in the Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine.
The Latino Center for Health advances health equity for Latino communities through community-engaged research, mobile healthcare, workforce development, and academic partnerships. Established in 2014, it is the only research center in Washington State dedicated exclusively to the health and well-being of Latino communities. By expanding culturally responsive care and training diverse health professionals, it addresses persistent healthcare disparities across Washington state and the broader WWAMI region. Its community-engaged approach brings together researchers, grassroots organizations, community leaders, and policymakers to identify priorities and develop culturally responsive solutions addressing chronic disease, mental health, immigrant health, and broader structural barriers to care.
Through its Mi Salud mobile health initiative, LCH provides free bilingual and bicultural screenings, health education, vaccinations, dental exams, and referrals in underserved communities, including rural and agricultural areas across Washington. Participants are also connected to local clinics for follow-up care and since January 2024, the impact of the initiative has reached various counties across Washington state with more than fifteen community health clinics.
The LCH is also focused on efforts to strengthen the future healthcare workforce through fellowships, mentorship, community-based training, and a proposed Latinx Health Sciences Traineeship across UW’s health-science schools. Its Small Grants Program supports partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations, while emerging initiatives address overlooked issues such as traumatic brain injuries associated with domestic violence. Together, these efforts position LCH as a catalyst for health equity across Washington and the broader WWAMI region by expanding access to care, building community capacity, informing policy, and preparing culturally responsive health professionals.
Dr. Leo S. Morales is a Professor of Medicine and Assistant Dean with the Office of Healthcare Equity and Adjunct Professor of Public Health and Social Work at the University of Washington. He serves as Co-Director of the Latino Center for Health, a multidisciplinary state-funded community-engaged research center at the University of Washington. Dr. Morales completed a residency in primary care internal medicine at the San Francisco General Hospital/UCSF and a general internal medicine fellowship at UCLA. His research focuses on Latino Health, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in health, and the measurement of patient-reported outcomes in diverse communities. He has co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed research articles. Dr. Morales is an attending physician at the Latinx Diabetes Clinic at the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute. In recognition of his efforts to improve the health of Washingtonians, he received the Washington State Public Health Association (WSPHA)’s 2023 Annual Secretary’s Award, and is also a recipient of a 2021 Washington State Medical Association Grassroots Advocate Award.
Read the full feature below.
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