Racist nativism in academic medicine: an analysis of Latinx faculty experiences

Abstract

The disadvantaged position in which underrepresented faculty in medicine often find themselves is characteristic of not only our current society but also tradition and elitism in academic medicine. This study analyzed the experiences of Latino/a/x faculty in academic medicine and examined the messages that perpetuate racist nativist attitudes in academia. The analysis employed qualitative content textual analysis to examine interview transcripts with Latino/a/x faculty. The approach is grounded on racist nativism as the foundation for analysis, expanding its theoretical reach to academic medicine. Findings revealed experiences of racism, discrimination and microaggressions, as well as the role of perceived accents as exclusionary identifiers, and provided insights into its effect on academic credibility. The exodus of Latino/a/x faculty and administrators from traditionally White institutions is thought to be multifactorial, including poor institutional climates and instances of racism. This article demonstrates how racism challenges the credibility of Latino/a/x faculty.

Keywords:

• Latino/a/x faculty
• racist nativism
• academic medicine
• language and accent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 HMF refers to racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population (AAMC, 2015). Traditionally, this term has included Black, Latino/a/x, and Native American/Alaska Native faculty members. We also encourage the great need to disaggregate “Asian” group faculty data in order to identify other drastically underrepresented groups within this category.

2 Latino/a/x is used in the current study as a term of inclusion. Latino was used in the 2016–2017 study to be inclusive of Latinas, Latinos, and those with non-binary, non-conforming, and gender-fluid gender identities.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sylk Sotto-Santiago

Sylk Sotto-Santiago, Ed.D., MBA, MPS is the Vice-Chair for Faculty Affairs, Development, and Diversity, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Sotto-Santiago serves as co-chair of the Indiana University School of Medicine Diversity Council. Dr. Sotto-Santiago also holds affiliate faculty appointments with the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (IN CTSI), IU Center for Bioethics; and the National Institute for Transformation and Equity at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Darsella Vigil

Darsella Vigil, MA is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Higher Education in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. Ms. Vigil serves as a Research Fellow with the American Council on Education (ACE).