“As a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate on my mom’s side, my job is to be an example,” says Judy Galindo, director of research and co-owner at Sun Valley Research Center and co-founder of Latinos in Clinical Research.
Galindo hopes the spotlight of Hispanic Heritage Month will help her and others better illuminate the benefits of clinical trials and bring them to a wider patient population. “Many Latinos don’t understand clinical trials, or they’ve heard something bad from someone,” she says. “We have to reach out in communities, we have to go beyond ads and social media, and be more proactive” in outreach to the Latinx patient population.
Building relationships forged by clear communication is key, Galindo explains. “Latinos trust their physicians, family members, and community leaders” when it comes to making health decisions, she notes. Without those leaders espousing the benefits of clinical trials, patient recruitment effort will continue to lag, she adds.
“Hispanic Heritage Month means a lot to me,” she says. “It’s a time to highlight the important contributions Latinos have made to clinical research.”
“During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we reaffirm that diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths,” said a statement from President Biden marking the beginning of 2022’s celebration period. “Since the beginning, our country has drawn strength and insights from Hispanic writers, scientists, soldiers, doctors, entrepreneurs, academics, and leaders in labor and government.”
Meanwhile, “Tu Salud Tu Familia” (Your Health Your Family), a weekly health and medical education program on Telemundo aimed at the Latinx community in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut and hosted by Dr. Fabian Sandoval, CEO and medical director of the Emerson Clinical Research Institute, won the health/medical category at the 64th Capital Emmy® Awards presented by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This is the third Capital Emmy win for the show.
“We are honored by this recognition. We started ‘Tu Salud Tu Familia’ to make medical education accessible to our Telemundo viewers and I am proud of how we have lived up to that promise,” said Dr. Sandoval in a September 26 release announcing the Emmy win. “Broadening access to clinical trials is an important mission of our work at the Emerson Clinical Research Institute and by extension, our show on Telemundo.”
Author: Michael Causey
