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Avanza 88.3 Program Director Edgar Zúñiga spoke with Dr. Joseph Arrington, president of the Utah chapter of the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NAHLE), about leadership, mentorship, and representation in health care.
Arrington says the organization plays a key role in building community and opening doors for Latino professionals. “It’s about creating that sense of community and unity,” he said, explaining that the network supports people who may face barriers entering the field.
Through mentorship initiatives like the La Mesa program, Arrington helps guide students and early-career professionals. “You never know if you’re going to meet somebody who can be your mentor… who can say one little thing that might change your entire outlook and your entire future,” he said.
Arrington’s own path is inspiring. The son of a Brazilian immigrant mother, he worked his way from an associate’s degree to advanced graduate study. “I kind of wear that as a badge of honor,” he said. “Statistically it’s not common for someone to go from associate’s degree to doctorate.”
Looking ahead, Arrington hopes to combine his training across medicine, research, and administration to make an impact. “I want to be kind of a Swiss Army knife in health care,” he said, “to help patients directly as a physician, but also as a scientist and administrator, and bring that different perspective that comes from my heritage.”
