Study: Shortage of Latino physicians deepens

Although the Latino population in the country has steadily grown, the number of Latino physicians per capita fell steeply over a 30-year period, according to a study published in Academic Medicine.

 

Using U.S. Census data from 1980 to 2010, researchers found that although the Latino population rose 243%, the number of Latino physicians per 100,000 Latinos decreased about 22%. In 1980, there was 135 Latino physicians for every 100,000 Latinos. In 2010, there were 105 physicians per 100,000 residents.

 

During the same period of time, the number of non-Hispanic white (NHW) physicians increased per capita. In 1980, there were 211 NHW physicians per 100,000. By 2010, the rate had increased to 315.