Beyond Words

Empowering Latino Communities by Addressing Disparities in Palliative and Hospice Care

Webinar

Virtual

April 9, 2025

10 AM CST/11 AM ET

For many Latino families, navigation palliative and hospice care is not just about making medical decisions -it’s about overcoming systemic disparities, including language barriers that can significantly impact the quality of care. When crucial health information, advance care planning, and support services are not available in Spanish or culturally appropriate formats, families are left struggling to make informed choices, often feeling unheard and underserved.

This webinar will shed light on the language and healthcare disparities that prevent Latino communities from accessing compassionate and equitable End-of-Life care. Dr. Carlos Hernandez Torres, Compassion and Choices Latino Leadership Council member and expert in palliative and hospice care, Dr Paulina Sosa-Quintanilla, Founder, President and CEO of National LatinX Task Force, and Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM)’s very own Carmen Martinez will discuss how we can bridge these gaps through advocacy, education and systemic change. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on navigating healthcare systems, advocating for language equity and ensuring that Latino families receive the respect, support and care they deserve – beyond words.

Speakers

Carlos Hernandez Torres

MD, FAAFP
Family Physician, Cascadia Health
Latino Leadership Council
Compassion & Choices

Website

Dedicated, resourceful and multifaceted physician with over 14 years of clinical
trajectory. I have strong primary care training and expertise, yet extensive
experience in multiple fields of medicine which include palliative care, hospice,
pain management and the management of addictive disorders. Being bilingual,
with Spanish being my native language, has given me an edge in connecting
with patients of multiple communities and backgrounds.

Carmen Martínez

Partnerships Manager
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante

Website

Carmen Martínez is CDM’s Partnerships Manager, where she manages external partnerships and develops strategic collaborations to advance CDM’s work. She graduated from Cornell University and holds a bachelor’s degree from the School of Industrial Relations, and has dedicated her career to advancing workers’ and civil rights for im/migrant workers. She’s a proud daughter of immigrant parents hailing from Jalisco, México.

Paulina Sosa

DrPH, MPH
President/Executive Director
Latinx Voces

Website

Dra. Paulina Sosa-Quintanilla is the Founder, President and Executive Director of Latinx Voces, a national nonprofit with the goal to amplify all Latino voices and achieve equity in health and cultural representation. Paulina has worked for more than 15 years in public health, including policy, advocacy, data analytics and community outreach. Her work has revolved around infectious disease transmission and epidemic/pandemic preparedness, including influenza and COVID-19. Paulina has also completed her doctorate in the DrPH Public Health Informatics program at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a research focus on data informatics, dashboard development, and health equity.

Paulina has worked at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as the Lead Data Analyst in the Influenza team. She has worked with the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), the American Public Health Association (APHA) COVID-19 Response Team, and the Access Smithsonian’s See Me program. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paulina provided consulting services for PAHO and other key partners in data, surveillance, and health communications.

Webinar Resources & Next Steps

Thank you for joining our webinar! Below you’ll find links to key resources and tools shared by each speaker, as well as ways to stay connected and get involved.

Latinx Voces (LUCHAR Program)

LUCHAR Health Webpage:
https://latinxtaskforce.org/luchar/

Upcoming Events:
https://latinxtaskforce.org/events/

📧 Contact: Paulina Sosa – psosa@latinxvoces.org

Compassion & Choices

Main Website:
www.compassionandchoices.org

Resources in Spanish:
Información en Español
• Mis Decisiones al Final de la Vida
• Herramienta de valores y prioridades para la demencia
• Glosario de videos sobre definiciones médicas

Resources in English:
Information in English
• My End-of-Life Decisions: Toolkit
• Dementia Values and Priorities Tool

Helpful Tools:
📺 Video – How to Start the Conversation with Your Doctor
📄 Advance Directive by State (CaringInfo)
📝 FreeWill – Make a Free Will
📬 Join the C&C Community Listserv
📞 Free Info Line: 1-800-247-7421