Show Notes
What happens when false narratives about Latino communities become a public health threat?
In this episode, Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, explores how harmful narratives can shape policy, fear, trust, access to care, and health outcomes. He explains why portraying Latinos as outsiders, a burden, or undeserving ignores their central role in the U.S. economy, workforce, caregiving systems, and civic life. Dr. Guilamo-Ramos calls on health care organizations to move beyond neutrality by building meaningful relationships with Latino communities, adapting services to reduce barriers to care, and sharing real decision-making power with the people they serve.
Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about why Latino health is U.S. health and how health care leaders can correct harmful narratives, restore trust, and act on equity.
About Vincent Guilamo-Ramos:
Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos is the Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. He is the founding director of the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health. A dually licensed adult health and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, his research focuses on social determinants of health and family-based interventions that promote adolescent and young adult sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and improved care outcomes among Latino and other underserved communities.
Things You’ll Learn:
False narratives about Latino communities can become policies and practices that create fear, delay care, and harm people’s health.
Latinos are central to the U.S. economy, workforce, caregiving systems, and civic life, not peripheral to the nation’s future.
Fear of enforcement or profiling can keep people from preventive care, primary care, follow-up appointments, and other essential services.
Chronic stress and discrimination can affect mental health, family stability, and health outcomes across generations.
Health care organizations can reduce barriers by adapting care delivery, screening for psychological distress, and connecting families with clinical and social support.
Meaningful engagement requires Latino communities to have real leadership, decision-making authority, and oversight of resources.
Health equity work should begin with communities furthest from opportunity so that universal efforts do not widen existing gaps.
Resources:
Connect with and follow Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos on LinkedIn.
Explore the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
Read Correcting False Narratives: Indispensable Latino Contributions to U.S. Population Health in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Read the National Academies report, Ending Unequal Treatment: Strategies to Achieve Equitable Health Care and Optimal Health for All
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