Whittier Street Health Center Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by “Prioritizing Health: A Prescription for Prosperity, Power, and Progress!”

Our patients and staffs recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with Paul Francisco, senior vice president and chief diversity officer at State Street Bank, as keynote speaker. The theme for the annual event, which took place on October 13, was “Prioritizing Health: A Prescription for Prosperity, Power and Progress!”

?Francisco delivered a heartfelt message about the first primary health care he received in the U.S. as an immigrant living with his aunt in Roxbury – which was provided by Whittier Street Health Center. And he is far from alone. Whittier serves a large immigrant population, with an estimated 41% of patients identifying as Hispanic or Latino, and more than 50% of employees identifying likewise.

?After learning to play football in high school, attending Boston University on an athletic scholarship, and becoming the first NFL player from Honduras, Francisco left professional football after a number of injuries, but took what he learned about being a member of a diverse team with him into his career.

?The celebration also featured musical entertainment and presentations by our physicians - Foot Health by our Podiatrist, Dr. Rachel Hutchins and Diabetes Prevention and Management by Dr. Arturo Villarreal, Family Medicine Physician. The goal was to educate patients and staff about the high rates of diabetes in the Hispanic population.

?“Health is a key component for achieving prosperity, power, and progress,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “It’s easy to overlook your health, or take it for granted. But with Hispanic and Latino people more likely to develop pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, which is a preventable chronic condition, it’s important for us to share our resources and help people identify small changes to create healthy habits. It’s just one way we stand united in addressing health equity for all of our patients.

?“Paul is a wonderful representation of how Whittier, by promoting equity and equality within health care, helps to better position its patients to realize the American dream, and the possibilities of prosperity, power, and progress,” Williams added. “We are so grateful to Paul for leading this important discussion and sharing his story.”