LPOC Projects
ACEs Aware is an initiative led by the Office of the California Surgeon General and the Department of Health Care Services to give Medi-Cal providers training, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for ACEs. Detecting ACEs early and connecting patients to interventions, resources, and other support can improve the health and well-being of individuals and families.
LPOC was selected as one of 100 grantee organizations to support the State’s ACEs Aware initiative. LPOC’s role is to communicate the importance of getting ACEs certified and treating patients for symptoms of toxic stress related to ACEs. One way we are doing this is by producing and collecting our members’ personal stories related to ACEs.
ACEs Aware: Screen • Treat • Heal
COVID-19 - “A Physician’s Perspective”
LPOC has undertaken the production and collection of member’s stories related to how COVID-19 has affected themselves, their families and their patients, and encouraging viewers to be safe, get vaccinated and take care of themselves during this difficult time.
Workforce Development
Since its founding in 2011, LPOC has championed Latinx pre-med and medical students through our partnerships with MiMentor, Latino Medical Students Association and others. LPOC’s 2016 Latino Physician Needs Assessment Survey & Report highlighted the growing disparities between Latinx healthcare professionals and the Latinx population in our state.
This information was presented at LPOC’s 2016 Symposium: Creating a Movement for Change. This year, we continued to bring awareness to the issue with the 2021 LPOC Summit: A Forum on California’s Future Health Care Workforce.
Highlights from Past Projects
The Latino Physician Legacy
With a $10,000 grant from the Sierra Health Foundation, LPOC researched which elements should comprise a ‘model of educational attainment’ to support young Latinxs early on – beginning in eighth grade – to ensure they have the opportunity to become physicians in California. A key strategy for this project was to work with universities, medical schools, and other education systems to increase the number of Latinxs trained as physicians in California. Providing culturally competent healthcare being one of the most longstanding and difficult issues for the Latinx community.
Realizing the importance of a strong workforce pipeline, LPOC has worked with student groups to mentor and encourage the young people involved. The Latino Student Medical Association (LMSA) has always been an important affilate of LPOC’s: so much so that the LPOC Board of Directors has dedicated a seat on the Board to an LMSA representative. Another affiliate and important program for LPOC is MiMentor, where LPOC physicians mentor pre-medical school students in interviewing and preparing for their medical education ahead. LPOC also has an alliance with the American Medical Students Association that we continue to build upon.
