The Spanish pathway program: Introducing, recruiting, and retaining Spanish-speaking students to the pharmacy...

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Health Equity
• Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Hispanic/Latino population represents 19% of the US, yet less than 5% of pharmacists identify as Hispanic.
• Significant underrepresentation of Hispanic/Latino individuals in the pharmacy workforce creates barriers to care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a "Spanish Pathway Program" to increase the number of Hispanic/Latino and Spanish-speaking students in pharmacy.
• To improve patient access to Spanish-speaking pharmacists and address health disparities within Hispanic/Latino communities.

Main Methods:

• Program objectives included attracting, recruiting, and retaining Spanish-speaking students through leadership, mentoring, and networking.
• Students received specialized training, including experiential rotations and health outreaches in Hispanic/Latino communities.
• Medical Spanish certification and community-focused projects were integrated.

Main Results:

• Over six years, the program expanded from 2 to 20 students across two campuses.
• Achieved a 97% student retention rate and placed three-fourths of graduates into community pharmacy roles.
• Students reported enhanced patient interactions due to their Spanish-speaking abilities.

Conclusions:

• The Spanish Pathway Program effectively increased the pipeline of Spanish-speaking pharmacists.
• The program demonstrates a successful model for other institutions aiming to diversify their pharmacy workforce and serve underrepresented populations.