The 2023 LMSA National Regional Conference (NC2023)

Overview

The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) is proud to announce the ​18th Annual LMSA National Conference ​to be held in person in Atlanta, GA on September 14-17, 2023. 

As always, this event represents the latest product of a grassroots, student-driven movement that begins in the 1960’s, aimed at improving healthcare for underserved communities in the United States. To better foster the development of trainees and faculty under-represented in medicine, NC2023 will be a standalone event, separate from and in addition to LMSA’s regional conferences that occur each Winter.

LMSA and its antecedent organizations were created to increase the number of Latina/o/x, Hispanic, or of Spanish Origin + (LHS+) individuals in medicine; to provide them and their peers with the educational resources and programming necessary to promote their success; and to increase access to excellent and culturally relevant healthcare for what is now the largest non-white ethnic group in the United States. LMSA’s conferences address these objectives by exposing attendees to critical issues affecting healthcare and medical education, and by providing attendees with opportunities to further develop as physicians, leaders, and advocates for the patients they serve.

Specifically, under this year’s theme, Salud y Justicia: Fighting for Safety, Equity, and Human Rights, NC2023 will highlight ways in which our LMSA community has leveraged – and will continue to leverage – a united, powerful voice to fight for the improved health of our country’s LHS+ population. We invite you to join us in our mission to increase diversity in medicine and mitigate healthcare disparities, especially during this time in which healthcare is experiencing unprecedented changes and challenges.

Registration is open! Discounts will be made available to those who register during the early bird registration period, as well as those who are active LMSA National members. The deadline to register is August 31, 2023. No on-site registrations will be accepted.

For any questions or concerns regarding this event, please reach out to nc2023@lmsa.net.

COVID-19 Provisions

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the U.S., LMSA is actively monitoring federal, state, local, and institutional public health guidelines to ensure a safe and successful National Conference.

Note as of May 7, 2023

At this time, all NC2023 activities will take place in person.

Given the continued risk of COVID-19, especially within the communities and hospitals we serve, LMSA urges all of its conference participants to be fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 as per CDC Guidelines. However, in light of the scheduled end of the U.S. Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, LMSA will not be requiring attendees to provide proof of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Masking throughout NC2023 is strongly recommended and encouraged, particularly in areas in which social distancing may not be possible. LMSA also requests that all registrants voluntarily undergo a COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test prior to arrival in Atlanta, GA.

Moreover, LMSA asks that participants who test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Atlanta, who do not feel well, or who are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms at any point during NC2023 refrain from participating in any conference-related activities. If this applies to you, please inform LMSA staff immediately at nc2023@lmsa.net.

This policy aims to promote responsible behavior and reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. However, by registering for and participating in NC2023, attendees acknowledge that they are taking on the risk of contracting the virus.

All attendees are encouraged to download the LMSA Hub app to their mobile devices in order to access NC2023 information on the go. A link to the NC2023 web event will be added to this page in Summer 2023.

Information Regarding the NC2023 Venue

Most in-person NC2023 activities will take place at Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia (referred to herein as the Crowne Plaza). The Crowne Plaza is located at 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30346.

LMSA has secured a housing block to accommodate attendees and exhibitors at discounted rates! Please access these group rates using the instructions below.

• Room Rate: $159/night + tax
• Booking Link: https://lmsa.me/NC2023-hotel
  • When booking on the Crowne Plaza website, if you do not immediately see your requested dates, click on the “Change Search” button in the top right to change your search. Peak nights are Friday and Saturday so those dates get auto-populated. By changing the search criteria, you can include all three nights of stay if you are arriving in Atlanta on Thursday.
  • To reserve by phone, please call 866-846-7573 and reference the group code “SFL.” 

The cut-off date for group rates is August 21, 2023.

Please note: guests are responsible for all room fees, including incidental charges, holds, and other hotel charges. If any issues arise during the booking process, please contact nc2023@lmsa.net.

Agenda & Session Tracks

Click on the attachments below to view our agenda for NC2023.

Sessions for Faculty, Residents, Fellows, and Professional Attendees

The LHS+ Identity, Development, Empowerment, and Resources Seminar

The NC2023 Alumni & Professional Track

Featured Speakers

PILAR ORTEGA, MD, MGM

Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)

Dr. Pilar Ortega is Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), where she supports efforts to improve retention and well-being for diverse resident and fellow physicians; address harassment, discrimination, and other forms of mistreatment in the graduate medical education (GME) learning environment; and disseminate information on diversity, equity, and inclusion activities to the GME community. Dr. Ortega is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in linguistically and culturally appropriate health care.
Dr. Ortega also holds an appointment as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago Departments of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education. 
She has more than 15 years' experience creating and evaluating innovative programs throughout the medical education continuum. Her groundbreaking work in medical Spanish education and assessment has contributed to the recognition of language equity as an area of scholarly inquiry in medicine. She also co-founded two non-profit organizations that foster interprofessional collaborative scholarship focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging: the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement and the National Association of Medical Spanish. To date, she has published four books and more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has delivered more than 100 national and international presentations.
Dr. Ortega has mentored numerous underrepresented in medicine learners and junior faculty members in advancing their academic scholarship through her roles in the Latino Medical Student Association, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the MedEdPORTAL journal, and the Association of American Medical Colleges Research in Medical Education committee. 
Dr. Ortega earned her undergraduate degree in philosophy at the Johns Hopkins University, her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Chicago, and a master’s degree in graphic medicine from the Universidad Internacional de Andalucía.

Óscar Iván Zambrano, MBA, MPH, CDM

President, Medical Organization for Latino Advancement (MOLA)

Public Health and Management Professional with extensive experience in program and leadership development, Óscar Iván is a member of the Chicago Board of Health, Chairperson of the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement (MOLA), and Business Development & Equity Director for Advocate Health. He is also one of the founders and the current President of MOLA, a professional association of Latinx physicians and health professionals in the USA.
Óscar Iván's work focuses on aligning public health needs, especially for diverse populations experiencing disparities, with equitable access to high-quality health services. At Advocate Health, he leads Business Development with an emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion related channels. In this capacity, he oversees processes on diverse patient data analytics, culturally/linguistically concordant care competency building, community partnerships development, and diverse talent recruitment and development. Oscar co-chairs Advocate Health’s regional Inclusion Council, where he spearheads projects that address the needs of LGBTQ, Hispanic, African American, immigrants, and South Asian populations.
As an innovative, goal-oriented, and relationship-focused public health professional, Óscar Iván holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Business Administration (Specialization in Marketing of Health Services). He also has training in Diversity Management (CDM).
Originally from Colombia, Óscar Iván has received notable recognition for his contributions to various fields. Crain’s Chicago magazine honored him as a Notable LGBTQ Executive, while the Chicago Latino Network awarded him the Latino Leadership Award. Additionally, The National Hispanic Medical Association recognized him as a Regional Leader for his work in building professional medical societies.
In the past, Óscar Iván served as the Chairperson of Centro Romero’s Board of Directors, a social service enterprise focused on assisting immigrants, in 2011. He was also a member of Howard Brown Health’s Board of Directors until June of 2021.

ELENA V. RIOS, MD, MSPH, MACP

President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association

President, National Hispanic Health Foundation

Dr. Rios serves as President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, (NHMA), representing 50,000 Hispanic physicians in the United States. The mission of the organization is to improve the health of Hispanics.  Dr. Rios also serves as President of the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) to direct educational and research activities.
She has published articles and book chapters and has been recognized with several leadership awards from the U.S. Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, several national Latino organizations, Latino Leaders Magazine and the Washingtonian.
Dr. Rios earned her BA at Stanford University, and her MSPH/MD at the UCLA Schools of Public Health and Medicine. Dr. Rios completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and the NIH NRSA Research Fellowship at UCLA.

Overview of the NC2023 Exhibitor Fair

Note as of July 31, 2023:

Thank you for your interest in the 2023 LMSA National Conference. At this time, the NC2023 Exhibitor Fair is sold out. Our waitlist is also at maximum capacity. Please stay tuned for information regarding future LMSA events!

Fair Overview

Each year, LMSA hosts at least one Exhibitor Fair during its National Conference to connect its members to opportunities for career advancement and professional development.

The Exhibitor Fair is central to LMSA’s mission to empower medical trainees, especially those from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine, to become the physicians our communities need. Additionally, the Exhibitor Fair provides an ideal forum for medical schools, residency programs, and other educational organizations to engage trainees who share a passion for health equity.

For these reasons, we believe participation in the fair is particularly valuable for institutions who seek to
recruit and foster a more diverse and talented generation of physicians.

NC2023 Exhibitor Fair Logistics

For NC2023, LMSA will host one Exhibitor Fair across the following days:

• Friday, September 15, 2023: 4:00pm to 7:00pm Eastern Time
  • Setup Time: 2-4pm
    
• Saturday, September 16, 2023: 9:00am to 3:00pm Eastern Time
  • Breakdown Time: 3-5pm
    

Please note: all times are subject to change.

Sponsors & Exhibitors wishing to ship supplies may do so for a fee (billed to your institution after the event). To send materials ahead of time, please label your boxes as follows:

• 2023 LMSA National Conference
  YOUR ORGANIZATION NAME
  Number of boxes (i.e., 1 of 5, 2 of 5…etc)
  4355 Ashford Dunwoody Rd
  Atlanta, GA 30346
  770-395-7700 (main hotel phone number)
  

Please ensure that  shipped boxes arrive no earlier than Monday, September 11, 2023. Exhibitors must also make their own arrangements to ship materials out of the venue. LMSA is not responsible for lost, missing, or abandoned exhibitor materials.

Any questions regarding Exhibitor Fair setup, breakdown, shipping, and other logistics may be directed to nc2023@lmsa.net.

Exhibitor Shipping Boxes Hotel Handling and Storage Fees:

• Storage and handling fees are due upon receipt of the package and can be paid with a credit card
  • $10.00 per box under 20 lbs
  • $25.00 per box between 21-50 lbs
  • $75.00 per box 51 lbs and over
  • $150.00 per pallet
• Boxes arriving more than 2 (two) business days prior to the meeting dates and stored more than 2 (two) business days past meeting dates are subject to additional storage fees

We would like to thank all of our gracious sponsors and exhibitors:
Allegheny Health Network
American Academy of Dermatology
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Society of Hematology
Atrium Health Floyd Family Medicine Residency
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston Children's Hospital Combined Residency Program
Boston Medical Center
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Brown Emergency Medicine Residency at Alpert Medical School of Brown University
California Health Science University
Cambridge Health Alliance
Carolyn downs family Medical Center
Children's Mercy Hospital and University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine
Children's National Hospital Pediatric Residency Program
ChristianaCare
Cleveland Clinic
Colorado Family Medicine Residencies
Creighton University School of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA|UCLA Health
Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital Residency Program
Drexel University College of Medicine
Duke Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine
Harvard Medical School Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership
Henry Ford Health
Internal Medicine Residency Program (Moses/Weiler Campuses) Montefiore Einstein
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
JPS Health Network
Kaiser Permanente
LA General Med Center / USC
LAC+USC Emergency Medicine Residency
Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Diversity and inclusion
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science
MIchigan Medicine - Office for Health Equity and Inclusion
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz Family Medicine Residency Program
National Board of Medical Examiners
National Hispanic Medical Association
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Northwestern Medicine
NYU Grossman School of Medicine - GME, UME, and Office of Diversity Affairs
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Penn Medicine - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Alliance of Minority Physicians (AMP)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
Phoenix Children's Pediatric Residency Program Alliance
Prisma Health
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Rush University Medical Center
Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson
Saint Joseph Hospital Ob/Gyn Residency Program
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
Society of University Otolaryngologists
Stanford Medicine Office of Diversity in Medical Education
Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School Residency Programs
TidalHealth
TTUHSC El Paso Foster School of Medicine
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Uniformed Services University
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
University of Chicago Pritzker SOM
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Houston College of Optometry
University of Illinois College of Medicine
University of Missouri School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Culture and Equity
University of Oklahoma
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center GME Office
University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
UPMC Medical Education
UT Health - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Waco Family Medicine- Residency
Weill Cornell Medicine
Yale New Haven Hospital
Yale School of Medicine

The PODER Symposium

LMSA student members will have the opportunity to showcase their ongoing research projects at the NC2023 PODER Symposium, scheduled for 5-7pm Eastern on Friday, September 15, 2023. (Times subject to change.)

The annual LMSA Promoting Opportunities for Development & Empowerment of Researchers (PODER) Program aims to connect medical trainees to opportunities for presenting, perfecting, and publishing scholarly work. In doing so, PODER seeks to empower participants for careers in which they combine research and clinical practice to address healthcare disparities.

Abstract submissions have closed. Thank you to all who submitted!

NC2023 Gala & Closing Ceremony

Note as of 8/22/23: The NC2023 Gala is full! Gala registration is disabled until further notice.

Join us for our Gala at the conclusion of NC2023! This is a wonderful opportunity to congratulate our incoming medical students at they prepare to start their medical school journey. During the Gala, LMSA also announces recipients of our scholarships and awards, making the evening a fantastic celebratory event.

The Gala will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023, starting at 7pm Eastern. The formal Gala program will last until 10pm, and informal dancing, networking, and photos will continue from 10pm to 12am. Don’t miss this night of celebration and comunidad!

Admission to the Gala will require the purchase of a separate Gala ticket. Make sure to add one to your Cart along with your NC2023 registration!

Registration for NC2023

Registration for Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Healthcare Professionals is now open! Registration fees are shown below:

Any questions regarding attendee registration may be directed to nc2023@lmsa.net.

As part of the 2023 LMSA National Conference (NC2023), LMSA’s Faculty/Physician Advisory Council will be offering several programs for physicians, healthcare professionals, alumni, faculty, and staff. These programs include the following:

• The Latina/o/x Identity, Development, Empowerment, and Resources Seminar (LIDEReS)
• FPAC Track for Alumni & Professionals
• NC2023 Gala & Closing Ceremony