Abstract

Despite the rapidly growing Latino population in the United States, only a few of them are physicians, physician assistants (PAs), or nurses. This limited representation becomes smaller with Latina PAs in clinical leadership roles, leading to a health disparity that could negatively impact the health care of the Latino community. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, the researcher conducted a phenomenological qualitative study examining the lived experiences of Latina PAs in clinical leadership roles, focusing on their motivations, challenges, and strategies for overcoming these barriers. The study was theoretically grounded in theories related to culture, gender, and socioeconomic background. Data was collected from eight Latina PAs across the nation. Participants reflected on the difficulty of being in the field. They also described how culture, advocacy, mentorship, and resilience fueled their motivations to stay in their roles as clinical leaders. The outcomes of this dissertation could contribute to the literature on Latina PAs in clinical leadership, emphasizing the importance of diversity in medicine. Additionally, it offers a model for how Latina PAs can pursue clinical leadership roles.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Hispanic Americans in medicine; Women medical personnel—United States; Physician assistants—United States; Leadership in women—United States

Date of Award

2025

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Education

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Samaa Haniya

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