The Society of Hospital Medicine and Vituity Award Ricardo Crespo Regalado with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship Fund

Regalado Exemplifies Commitment to Health Equity and Improving Care for Underserved Communities, Devoted to Addresses Language Inequities in Hospital Admissions

On Sunday, the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) proudly announced Ricardo Crespo Regalado, BA, a medical student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, as the recipient of its Hospital Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship Fund, made possible by keystone sponsor Vituity. Regalado will receive a $25,000 medical education assistance scholarship.

"I am deeply honored to receive this scholarship, which significantly supports my goal to meld medical education and research with practical healthcare delivery for underserved communities," says Mr. Regalado. "This grant not only aids in furthering my academic and professional journey but also reinforces my commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of those who face the greatest health disparities."

Ricardo Crespo Regalado was born in Mexico and raised in a small rural town in North Carolina. He went to undergrad at UNC-Chapel Hill and majored in Exercise and Sport Science. As an undergraduate student at UNC, he began volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at the Student Health Action Coalition, the nation's oldest student-run free clinic. Since starting as an interpreter, Ricardo has climbed the ranks within SHAC over the past six years, progressing to Interpreting Coordinator, Interpreting Director, Lead Medical Team Coordinator, and now co-CEO. Through SHAC, he has developed a profound passion for serving underserved populations, improving quality, and advancing and researching health equity. Most recently, he has devoted his efforts to addressing language inequity in the hospital admissions process, identifying patients who need language access services at UNC, and using innovative approaches to expand this work to all of UNC Health. 

"Ricardo Crespo Regalado's journey from a volunteer Spanish interpreter to co-CEO at SHAC and his dedication to addressing healthcare disparities exemplify the impactful service and leadership that this prestigious scholarship seeks to recognize," extols Jenna Goldstein, SHM's Chief of Staff and staff liaison for SHM’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

“Ricardo's unwavering commitment to health equity and his innovative work in language access services at UNC Health showcases the remarkable qualities that make him deserving of this esteemed scholarship award," says Javay Walton, Vituity’s Vice President of Community Impact and Social Responsibility.

The scholarship fund was presented at SHM’s annual conference, SHM Converge, in San Diego on April 14. To learn more about the scholarship and selection criteria, visit hospitalmedicine.org/DEIscholarship. For questions, please contact Jenna Goldstein, SHM Chief of Staff, at jgoldstein@hospitalmedicine.org.