L to R: Dr. Kris Rehm, Ricardo Crespo Regalado, Langston Faulk of Vituity, and Dr. Eric Howell

In support of its commitment to enhancing diversity in the hospitalist workforce and eliminating health disparities for hospitalized patients across the country, SHM presented Ricardo Crespo Regalado with a $25,000 Hospital Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarships in April at Converge. The Hospitalist chatted with Mr. Regalado to learn more about him and his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 

Ricardo Crespo Regalado

Mr. Regalado

Ricardo Crespo Regalado is a medical student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, N.C. Born in Mexico, he was raised in the rural town of Pink Hill, N.C. He completed his undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he majored in exercise and sport science. As an undergraduate student, he began volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at the Student Health Action Coalition, the nation’s oldest student-run free clinic. He was drawn to the organization’s mission, in part, because of his family’s challenges accessing healthcare when he was a child.

Since starting as an interpreter, Mr. Regalado has climbed the ranks within the Student Health Action Coalition, progressing to interpreting coordinator, interpreting director, lead medical team coordinator, and now, co-CEO. Through the organization, he has developed a profound passion for serving underserved populations, quality improvement, and advancing and researching health equity.

Most recently, he has devoted his efforts to addressing language inequity in the hospital admissions process, intending to identify patients who need language access services at UNC and use innovative approaches to expand this work to all of UNC Health. He aspires to incorporate medical education and research into his future career. After graduating, he hopes to use his training to provide care to underserved populations.

Mr. Regalado notes that he could not have gotten to where he is today without the support of his wonderful family, girlfriend, and mentors, especially one couple, the Raffs. Outside of medical school, he loves to practice combat sports and spend time with his rescue dog.

Q. What’s led to your passion for hospital medicine over other subspecialties?

I have realized that health disparities that start in the outpatient setting (e.g., lack of access to preventive healthcare) often get amplified inside the hospital—a place you’d think should be a safe haven for all. There is so much room for improvement within our healthcare system, in particular within hospital walls, and I want to be a leader in health equity work within this system. Additionally, I have had incredible hospital medicine mentors (shoutout to Dr. Evan Raff!), and I love working with the type of patients we see in the hospital.

Q: Why is DEI so important to you, especially as it relates to hospital medicine?

DEI is important to me because I have experienced the struggle that underserved and underrepresented people face regularly. Now that I am on the other end of the socioeconomic spectrum, I want to do my part to help my community. I want to work within a health care system where everyone receives equal, fair care regardless of their demographics, socioeconomic status, or language ability, and a place where everyone respects the importance of DEI work. So many shared and different perspectives and new ways of treating patients arise when culturally competent providers come together to refine how we deliver care.

Q: Medical school is a full-time job on its own. How do you juggle all the outside projects?

Honestly, I just love staying constantly busy. I try to take on as many new projects as I can that need an extra set of hands, will improve care for others, and are of interest to me. When it becomes too much, I de-stress. Having an intense stress reliever is how I juggle all my commitments/projects and I do this through mixed martial arts.

Q: What advice would you give people who are just starting medical school?

It takes a village. As cliché as it may sound, you need a team of people to support, guide, and mentor you, and to connect you with opportunities. This is true whether you know what you want to pursue going into medical school (e.g., your parents are orthopedic surgeons) or not (no one in your family has ever pursued medicine). That said, the best thing you can do for yourself is start building this team early and don’t be shy. Send those cold emails to multiple researchers, talk to advisors, network with administrators, etc. Finally, find one thing you like–outside of medicine–and be able to talk about it with anybody.

Ricardo Crespo Regalado’s Hospital Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship is made possible by its Keystone Sponsor, Vituity.