Hispanic Heritage Month with Dr. Edward Dominguez

As Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) comes to an end, Methodist Transplant Specialists are proud to join in the celebration of the vast histories, cultures and influential contributions of the LatinX population.

This observance first started as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, but was later expanded to cover a 30-day period. The mid-month time frame is significant because it covers a Latin American independence day on September 15th and includes Columbus Day on October 12th. [1]

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Methodist Transplant Specialists sat down with one of the many LatinX physicians on staff, Edward Dominguez, MD, Medical Director of Organ Transplant Infectious Disease, to discuss this month’s significance.

Q: As a doctor, what does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

Dr. Dominguez: “As a LatinX physician, I am glad we are acknowledging and appreciating the impact of the Hispanic population on America’s culture, society and economy. From a medical standpoint, I fully support these types of spotlighting mechanisms because they bring much needed attention to the absence of education and prevention efforts in the Hispanic community when we think of high risk lifestyle behaviors and diseases.”

Q: What advice would you give to LatinX youth considering a career in healthcare?

Dr. Dominguez: “Learn to speak Spanish. Being able to speak directly to LatinX patients, especially those who travel here from Latin American countries, plays a significant role in the confidence of those patients that you are a top quality healthcare provider. In addition to that, being able to talk to patients without a translator really strengthens the provider-patient relationship.”

Q: Talk about the transplant services Methodist offers in Puerto Rico.

Dr. Dominguez: “For over 30 years, Methodist Puerto Rico Transplant Administration Corporation has been providing life saving kidney transplantation. Through a long and productive partnership with Dallas Nephrology Associates and The Transplant Institute, Puerto Rican patients are able to receive top quality kidney transplant care, from evaluation to lifelong follow up care.

Coming to Dallas for medical care is a much bigger commitment than going to Miami for example. The willingness to do so by our Puerto Rican patients speaks volumes to the commitment Methodist has made to the clinics we’ve built there.”

Q: Methodist Dallas Medical Center is located in a predominately Hispanic area…

Dr. Dominguez: “The hospital’s location is a testament to our dedication to this population. By remaining in the Oak Cliff area, Methodist is sending a strong message of commitment and partnership to the Hispanic community. The patient population here seems to understand that and we hear a lot of appreciation from them.”