Dr. Ashley Gomez, M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Pittsburgh, was the keynote speaker for UMass Chan Medical School at the closing event of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In his talk, “Mujeres Luchadoras: Labor and its impact on immigrant Latina health,” Dr. Gomez explored the relationship between work, migration, gender and health in the US Latina population.

Gomez reports that 18.7% of the US population is Latino, of which 5.9% are immigrants and 2.5% are illegal immigrants. Latin refers to the entire Latino population. Latina refers to women.

“I bring this up for two reasons,” Gomez said. “First, people overestimate the number of Latinas who are immigrants and/or illegal immigrants and that’s because we’re driving growth in the U.S. workforce.”

Gomez called on the audience to consider social determinants of health, such as work, as key drivers of health inequalities.

“Experiences vary not only by race and ethnicity, but also by gender and migration status,” she said, noting that among the Latino population, Latinos are the most affected by low-wage jobs. Immigrant Latinos are the lowest-income group compared to all other groups by race, ethnicity and gender.

This was explored further in her study of Latino immigrants designated as essential workers during the height of COVID-19. Gomez said in her research: But at the price of their labor, Latino immigrants themselves were treated as disposable, marked by poor working conditions and a lack of social and worker protection. This has directly and indirectly led to poor physical and mental health. ”

Her analysis shows that commodification, in which only what people can produce is valued, is a common denominator in relation to immigration, work, health, and various social determinants of health, and that Latino immigrants, both inside and outside the workplace, revealed that it affects This is most often seen in the way health disparities are exacerbated by lack of access to benefits, flexible work schedules, paid leave and worker protections. And low wages, she said.

Gomez said she hoped these shared experiences would lead to a positive approach to systems of privilege and oppression, calling for an intersecting approach.

“This framework allows us to explore the relationship between work and health among people who share multiple social identities that intersect with individuals,” Gomez said.

Prime Minister Michael F. Collins said in his address to the virtual audience: to our shared values. to our traditions and culture. And for our success in the past, present and future. ”

“We’re on the right track, but I think we all realize there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Collins said. I am very much encouraged by the ongoing and consistent discussion.