Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

With beginnings in 1968, National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, marking an opportunity to focus upon, reflect and celebrate the abundant contributions—past, present and have yet to be made—and diverse cultures that encompass the many vibrant Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. In honor of the month, we invited Overlake team members to share their thoughts on what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them, their favorite cultural traditions and the importance of diversity in healthcare.

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What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

• “To me, Hispanic Heritage Month means carrying the strength of my grandparents and ancestors who faced many barriers so that I could have many more opportunities than they did.” – Jennifer, nurse.
• "Hispanic Heritage Month is the same for me as any other month. Both of my parents raised us, six children, to be proud to be Mexican American. We have a lot to be thankful for." - Sylvia, Overlake team member.
• "Being of Mexican descent, it's a pride and an opportunity handed down to each generation. To me, being Mexican is about traditions, community, family, culture, unity, sacrifice, but more importantly, love." - Anabel, medical assistant.
• "As a first generation American, I treasure the culture and values inherited from my parents and take pride on being able to pass them on to my children so that they never forget their heritage." - Sandy, patient services representative.
• "My family is Mexican American, with a rich cultural background from Mexico (Indigenous Yaqui), Spain, Portugal and France. Having many different traditions in the home makes me feel like part of something bigger. Most people think Mexico is how Hollywood films depict it (deserts and cowboys), but it is a melting pot of people, cultures and landscapes." - Maria, medical assistant.

What brings you joy about your heritage and culture? What are some of your favorite traditions?

• “In my culture, we celebrate the Day of the Dead, which is my favorite, because we light up streets with candles and colorful flowers for our family members who have passed to find their way home. It is special to me because I get to be with them again and show them how much we miss them and love them still." - Alma, patient services representative.
• "We have lots of traditions that are very meaningful to us, like Posadas during the Christmas season, El dia de los Muertos when we celebrate our loved ones that have passed." - Anabel, medical assistant.
• "I celebrate my heritage, traditions, and ancestral roots the whole year by cooking Mexican cuisine, watching old Mexican movies, and in general, teaching others about my culture. I love it when I see others find a new appreciation for my culture after sharing a piece of it with them." - Sandy, patient services representative.
• "My favorite custom is making tortillas with my mom; I cherish sitting at the table with her and kneading dough into tortillas because it makes me feel close to her and to home. Making tortillas is a good way to sit at the table with others and to have good conversations while drinking Cafecito. It creates a safe space, so in a sense, it is the most at home anyone can feel. Fun fact: Flour tortillas come from the north of Mexico, while corn tortillas come from the south." - Maria, medical assistant.
• "Having close ties with my family, the food, and the music. Some traditions we do are big family gatherings, making food, and talking about our grandparents." - Jennifer, patient care technician.
• "Both of my parents only spoke Spanish in the household. Growing up, one tradition is to make tamales during the holidays. A favorite memory is waking up almost every morning to the smell of freshly made tortillas coming from the kitchen. Usually with huevos, papas, frijoles refritos." - Sylvia, Overlake team member.

Why do you feel cultural understanding is important in the healthcare industry?  

• "I feel that if there is cultural understanding, the patient will feel more comfortable with the providers and the providers will have a better understanding of where the patient is coming from and their concerns" - Alma, patient services representative.
• “I feel cultural understanding is vital to help healthcare professionals tailor treatment and care plans to address the specific health challenges and cultural beliefs of the patient." - Anabel, medical assistant.
• "A culturally competent health care system can help improve health outcomes and quality of care and can contribute to the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities." - Sandy, patient services representative.
• “What brings me joy about my heritage is that there are so many ways to celebrate — whether it is through music, enjoying delicious food, or watching traditional dance performances. My favorite traditions are celebrating El dia de la independencia (Mexico's Independence Day) and El dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).” – Anabel, medical assistant.
• “Having close ties with my family, the food, the music. Some traditions we do are big family gatherings, making food, and talking about our grandparents.” – Jennifer, patient care technician.

Why do you think diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce are important? 

• "It's important for people to see professionals that look and speak like they do. Everyone wants to feel a connection, especially when they are in a vulnerable state. Being able to communicate and connect effectively empowers patients to confidently make decisions best for them!" – Chelsea, nurse.
• "I see diversity and inclusion as a vital part of our healthcare system. Not only does it allow us to have wider perspectives, It also gives us an opportunity to connect with our team members and patients." – Anabel, medical assistant.
• “Diversity in the healthcare helps ensure all backgrounds, beliefs, and ethnicities are represented.”  – Jennifer, patient care technician.
• "Understand them and really listen to what their needs are and the reason of what brought them to our clinics and make them feel that they matter, even if it's just a smile or showing them that we care and will try to do as much as we can to help them.” - Alma, patient services representative.

Have you witnessed or experienced culturally sensitive care making a difference in patient outcomes? 

• “I have been working in different areas of healthcare (clinical and administrative) for around 19 years. What I love the most about being in healthcare is the opportunity to be there for someone and help guide them through what can sometimes be a very difficult and stressful time.”  – Paulina, CCMA
• "I had my own experience with a patient that was in labor and because of the language barrier she did not understand the reason she was being transported to the hospital in ambulance and was scared and no one spoke her language, and I was able to calm her down and explain the policy and assure her that nothing bad will happened to her and baby.” - Alma, patient services representative.
• "Yes, I had a Spanish-speaking patient that did not understand the importance of her treatment for her newly diagnosed autoimmune condition. I spent extra time after the appointment speaking with patients and family members to help them understand the importance of compliance with treatment.” - Anabel, medical assistant.
• "Cultural competency can help reduce medical errors based on misunderstanding or misinformation. By understanding and respecting the various cultural nuances presented in medical settings, healthcare providers can offer a level of care that's both comprehensive and personalized.” - Sandy, patient services representative.
• "I have noticed that patients seek providers from similar cultural backgrounds.... Patients look to obtain information in their own language and with providers who will understand some of the choices that they will face, without judgment. I have personally noticed how cultural sensitivity can make the difference between a compliant and a non-compliant patient.” - Maria, medical assistant.