The current situation in our country brings to mind the Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times…,” and these are indeed interesting times.
Interesting because we are not quite sure what the next day will bring and how we and others will respond. We are experiencing changes in major aspects of our lives and the expectations regarding our practice, our educational programs, our finances, and our communities. We are witnessing changes in organizations that gave direction and guidelines in the practice of medicine, vaccines, contraception, and other important aspects of patient care.
As Hispanic physicians we are prepared for the unexpected, the emergency, and the call to action in our work. We are ready to take action and to do well by our communities.
This issue of the Journal features an interesting selection of academic papers that have been reviewed and accepted for their merit and for the diversity of responses to the needs and status of our Hispanic community. As in the past, we have combined the accepted papers between those that bring interesting clinical findings and those that cover the educational issues affecting us as health care providers.
The needs in our communities include mentoring and supporting our students and future physicians with opportunities to enter the health care workforce in higher numbers and with greater opportunities for success.
We have included access to interviews featuring those on the front lines who are providing support and delivering health care and counsel to the newest members of our community.
The Journal offers a heartfelt tribute to a physician leader and role model we interviewed last year, whose advocacy work in medicine is an example of caring and activism. In this time of need his work provides us with a legacy of caring that makes us proud to be part of this important work of help and healing. He demonstrated a model for advocacy that can be followed in these interesting times.