Healthcare pa’ la gente

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 3 Latinos are uninsured, and Latino adults are 50% more likely to experience delays in accessing medical care compared to non-Hispanic whites. In majority Latino neighborhoods, for example, there’s a ratio of one primary care physician for every 5,000-6,000 residents, with patients waiting an average of 24 days to see a PCP.

But, growing up in predominantly Hispanic communities, we saw that challenges with the healthcare system didn’t stop once you were finally able to get to the physician’s office.

Our loved ones told stories of doctors not taking the time to listen to their stories or judging them for trying home remedies. In the rare case where there was a Spanish-speaking provider or the physicians had translated materials, the treatment our friends and families received remained far short of being truly culturally aware. They didn’t hear us. They didn’t see us. The healthcare system wasn’t designed around our unique identities and needs, with language barriers and a lack of systematic trust compounding widespread issues with access.



We started Zócalo Health to change that.

We are committed to delivering a new primary care model that blends tradition with innovation, establishing a trusting relationship between providers and patients. We promote wellness that goes beyond absence of illness and fosters physical, mental, social, and spiritual strength within our families and communities. With each patient we serve, we can start to create a new kind of healthcare system and strengthen the Latino voice.

This is healthcare pa’ la gente. Welcome to Zócalo.

–Erik & Mariza