When Bad Bunny took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show, the spectacle was undeniable. But beyond the lights and choreography, there was a message: unity across the Americas. It was deliberate, proud, and unmistakably cultural. Sitting beside me, a young woman sang every lyric with conviction — a reminder that while some of us may have aged out of pop culture’s center, its influence remains powerful and generational.
The reviews of the performance ran the full spectrum. Some praised it as groundbreaking. Others questioned its broader meaning and still others were appalled. For those of us working in health care, the more pressing question is not whether the show entertained it was what would be the implications as we work to meet our mission of best health for all.
While pop culture captures the spirit of the moment, the factors that drive how we provide health care requires a longer more measured horizon. Cultural visibility can shift narratives and foster pride, but it does not automatically become funding priorities, workforce investments, or accountability measures. While symbolism may opens doors it is the systems designed by people that determines change.
Hispanic identity — rooted in Spanish heritage and sometimes interwoven with Indigenous, African, and other cultural influences — is not new or emerging but rather foundational to the hemisphere. Nevertheless, as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, national celebrations often center on a narrow founding narrative. Spain, France, and Holland had established a presence on this continent centuries before 1776. Native American civilizations shaped this land long before European arrival. The story of America is broad and layered. The issue has never been presence; it has been recognition.
Recognition, however, must move beyond celebration. In health care especially, demographics are dynamics and reshape communities. If unity is to be more than a halftime theme, it must show up across everything we do in health— in policy alignment, funding commitments, workforce development, and long-term decisions.
Cultural moments can spark pride and visibility. Transformation requires policymakers and health system leaders to align with the communities they serve.
At the end of the performance, the message carried across the field was simple: “Together we are America”. The question is whether we are prepared to build systems that reflect that truth — not just during a halftime show, but in the everyday decisions that shape opportunity, health, and belonging.
