Unveiling Healthcare Dreams
Navigating Healthcare Career Aspirations Among Latinx and Black College Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/dxne8f35Keywords:
healthcare career aspiration, Latinx college students, Black college students, race, college experienceAbstract
Latinx and Black individuals have historically been underrepresented in healthcare professions and higher education. Utilizing a logistic regression analysis, this study examined how Latinx and Black students’ healthcare career aspirations differ from their peers in other racial groups and identified college experiences that may facilitate these aspirations for this population. The study used data from the 2015 Freshman Survey and the 2019 College Senior Survey and a sample of 5,258 undergraduate students nationwide. Results showed that Latinx and Black students tended to report higher levels of healthcare career aspirations than White students but lower than Asian American students. This study found that self-identifying as pre-med and participating in a campus program relevant to STEM careers appeared to promote Latinx and Black students’ healthcare career aspirations. The study provides insights into the experiences of Latinx and Black college students aspiring to healthcare careers and informs future research on career aspirations among Students of Color.
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