Spanish is the fourth most spoken world language, and the Hispanic/Latino community makes up almost 20% of the U.S. population (Pew Research Center). If you're considering a career in the health professions (medicine, nursing, biomedical sciences, pharmacy, veterinarian sciences, dentistry, etc.), you'll be better equipped to serve the needs of this community having achieved greater Spanish language competency and cultural fluency with a double major.
Many factors contribute to effective patient care, two of which are positive communication and an understanding of the community influences like family, lifestyle, environment, ethnic markers and education that affect a patient’s health. Competent health care professionals must know and understand their patients and be able to exchange information in order to provide comprehensive care.
"I am double majoring in biomedical sciences and Spanish, with the goal of going to medical school in the future. I decided to learn Spanish because I realized there was a need for medical professionals to know the language that a significant portion of the country speaks. In my biomedical science classes, I learn the physical mechanisms that cause illness, and that drive our bodies' function, which will prepare me for the rigor and challenges of medical school. However, studying the humanities taught me how to see the world beyond the mechanics of how a person physically functions. Humanities taught me how to interact with and communicate with others that are different than me and to appreciate these differences.
I work at Lee Obstetrics and Gynecology, and I've used both my majors in practice already. My understanding of science and medicine allows me to treat my patients diligently and with knowledge, and my understanding of Spanish allows me to treat Spanish speaking patients the same without hesitation." – Katie Day