Staff spotlight: Juliet Torres
Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, and throughout the month, UW Medicine has been celebrating the contributions and diverse cultures of our Hispanic and Latinx colleagues in a multi-part series. They recently featured Juliet Torres, research genetic counselor (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine).
“Shaped by both personal and clinical experiences, I have long aspired to be a Latina healthcare provider who offers bilingual, culturally conscious care,” she says. “While I initially considered becoming a physician, discovering genetic counseling captured my interest. I was drawn to the profession’s emphasis on guiding patients through informed decision-making and addressing psychosocial needs. I value how genetic counselors translate complex concepts into clear, accessible language. My goal is to empower patients in their personal understanding and their ability to share genetic information with their loved ones.
As a Mexican-American woman and healthcare professional, I’d like the UW Medicine community to know that terms like 'Latino' or 'Latinx' are used to group people under a single umbrella, but we are incredibly diverse. We come from different countries, speak different languages and dialects, and carry varied cultural practices, histories and health beliefs. While these collective terms can serve a purpose in healthcare data and policy, they don’t capture the richness or complexity of individual identities.
In today’s climate, the Latinx community continues to face heightened discrimination, marginalization, and violence fueled by harmful rhetoric and policies. Yet, this hate has never and will never diminish our worth or silence us. We are resilient beyond measure; creative, hardworking and community-oriented. We love deeply, even in the face of hate. We are far more than the stereotypes portrayed in the media. We are people, not just a source of labor or efficiency, but human beings dedicated to uplifting one another and contributing to the greater good.”