UC Irvine Celebrates National Latino Physician Day

On October 1, 2025, UC Irvine commemorated National Latino Physician Day with an inspiring celebration that brought together 100 students, faculty and community members. The event featured California's Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos as the keynote speaker and Alliance member Dr. Sarah Lopez, one of Prime-LC's first graduates. Both delivered powerful remarks about the critical need for Latinx representation in medicine and their message underscored an urgent reality: while Hispanics represent 40% of California's population, Latinos account for only 6% of physicians nationwide.

The celebration included a meaningful procession as students walked from the Latinx Resource Center to the Medical Education Plaza, a symbolic walk from an undergrad student, to receiving their white coat, from the school of Medicine.  Students proudly carried a banner expressing what the day meant to them. The UCI-OC Alliance Health Affairs Committee demonstrated their commitment by sponsoring giveaways for attendees. This demonstration of unity served as both a celebration of progress and a call to action, reinforcing UC Irvine's dedication to fostering inclusion within medical education and the broader healthcare community.

Read more on the School of Medicine website.