When asked what advice she would give to up-and-coming Hispanic physicians, former WAFP-Foundation president Dr. Janice Litza said it is critically important to find a community where you feel supported.
“It can be isolating to be the only one within a group,” Litza said. “Especially for the Latino community, we thrive on coming together—that's where we really regenerate our energy and our passion.”
September 15 – October 15 marked National Hispanic Heritage Month.
“It allows a really intentional and purposeful opportunity to reflect, pivot, do things differently based on what may be happening within specific communities,” Litza said.
October 1 was National Latino Physician Day.
“It gives me a chance to ask myself: am I doing all I can for my patients and the Latino community?” Litza said.
She believes a little bit of representation can go a long way.
“It may not be within their sights as easily as maybe some other individuals, so helping encourage that vision for all that they can be is really important in terms of getting more of us in the door,” Litza said. “Seek other opportunities and leadership to pull people forward and see what their potential is, maybe before they see it.”
Litza is Puerto Rican.
“There's not one size or one type Hispanic or Latino individual,” Litza said. “We come from multiple different countries. Our primary language, our ethnic food, our spirituality, there's much more complexity … the richness and the diversity of our culture and our families are worth conversations, and that just shows respect, and that way we know that we're seen.”
She was born and raised in Milwaukee.
“There's a beautiful diversity within Milwaukee, not only a strong Hispanic community, but there's so many other communities,” Litza says. “It is a rich environment to provide family medicine.”
Litza is the Program Director at the new Ascension Family Medicine Residency Program. Over her career, she has worked everywhere from academia to big health systems and everything in between.
“Bringing all my experiences together, in creating a new program, has been really exciting,” Litza said. “I want to create the best family medicine residency program that Milwaukee has to offer, and bring my future colleagues forward to care for the community that I have been born and raised and love so much."
It has been over 20 years since Litza was a resident herself.
“Even though some things in medicine and technology and systems have changed, taking care of people and being a compassionate and empathetic family medicines physician is unchanged,” Litza said.
She encourages Hispanic residents to continue seeking mentorship.
“Oftentimes we are the first of our family who has gone to college or achieved an advanced degree or the first physician, so there isn't much mentoring from within our own family or friend group,” Litza said. “So having some guidance from others who have already been successful and paved the way is so valuable."
Litza was a mentor to Dr. Wendy Ledesma back when Ledesma was only a pre-med student. Now, she is an accomplished physician of her own and a board member for the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives.
“Having a Latina physician as a mentor was pivotal in my medical career; she understood the cultural challenges to pursue this profession as a female, she guided and counseled me on how to balance my role as a mother and doctor, and she encouraged me to follow my true passions,” Ledesma said. “She embodied ‘Si, se puede!’ Today, she continues to inspire me as my career evolves into a healthcare physician executive leader.”
Ledesma believes Litza’s impact goes beyond 1:1 patient care.
“I have seen the profound impact Dr. Litza’s mentorship has had on my life,” Ledesma said. “Having a colleague that truly understands my cultural roots has been a blessing. During Hispanic Heritage Month I celebrate Dr. Litza as leader that embodies compassionate, cultural competent care while building the physician workforce to do the same! ¡Felicidades, Dra. Litza! ¡Adelante!"
In the past couple years, Litza has increased her mentorship.
“I try to be supportive and compassionate as a leader. I try to be honest and transparent in a way that is still respectful,” Litza said. “I still get more out of mentoring others than maybe what they get from me, because I'm excited for the future. I'm excited for each individual's future and the uniqueness that they're going to bring to medicine.”
