Health disparities in the Hispanic community are vast. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanics outrank non-Hispanic whites in cancer, obesity, asthma and low-birth weights. “There is a major disparity in health care providers as well,” said Dr. Norma Perez, director of the Hispanic Center of Excellence at UTMB. “There has been exponential growth of the Hispanic population, yet stagnant growth of Hispanic doctors.” UTMB’s Hispanic Center of Excellence is working to reduce disparities through the recruitment and training of culturally competent medical students and through faculty development.