Day One – Thursday, June 5, 2025
8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Registration – Marquis Ballroom Foyer
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
NHMA Board of Directors Meeting- Suite 312
Closed door session.
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Exhibitor Set Up – Marquis Ballroom
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch – Grand Ballroom EF
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Grand Ballroom G
NHMA 2025 Advancing Physician Leaders Fellowship Program (APLF) Leadership Session
In this session, the 2025 APLF cohort will explore effective teamwork, leadership and collaboration by leveraging diverse assets to build trust, enhance communication and drive shared success in advocacy and health care settings.
Closed door session.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Grand Ballroom A&B
Preconference Workshop 1: Seizure First Aid Presentation/Certification
Speaker: Natalie Sucher
This session explores seizure recognition and first aid, including different types of seizures, steps for helping someone during a seizure, and available emergency medications. Certification provided. Limited seats available.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Grand Ballroom H
Preconference Workshop 2: Mastering the Basics of Point of Care Ultrasound and FAST
Speakers: Juliana Jaramillo, M.D. | Eva Tovar, M.D., MPH, AEMUS-FPD | Jessica Fugimoto, M.D., FAAEM, FACEP | Krysten Sessoms, M.D.
Join us for this hands-on POCUS workshop with a focus on FAST exam views. Limited seats available.
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Grand Ballroom J
Preconference Workshop 3: Culinary Medicine from Physician to Patient: How to Drive Impact with Nuestros Sabores
Speakers: Lana Frantzen, Ph.D. | Crystal Orozco, RDN, CDCES, CPT
Explore how culinary medicine connects food, flavor, and health. Includes tastings, recipes, and a practical toolkit. Limited seats available.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Grand Ballroom K
NHMA Chapter Meetings
Closed door sessions.
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Council of International Medical Graduates Meeting – Grand Ballroom AB
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Networking Break – Marquis Foyer
Come meet your fellow NHMA members and make new connections.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
NHMA Specialty Council Meetings – Grand Ballroom CD
Closed door sessions.
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Opening Reception – Platinum Patio
Day Two – Friday, June 6, 2025
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Registration – Marquis Ballroom Foyer
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Exhibits/Activities/Breaks – Marquis Ballroom
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Sunrise Stretch Yoga Join us for an exhilarating start to the day as Eli Walker, the founder of Drunk Yoga, leads a class at the intersection of play and mindful connection.
Exhibit Hall – Activation Area
8:30 am – 9:50 am
Welcome Session: Uniting Voices from the Local, State, and National Levels to Advance Latino Health
Grand Ballroom EF
Speakers: Diana Ramos, M.D., MPH, MBA, FACOG, California Surgeon General | City of Anaheim Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava | Gilbert Burgos, M.D., MPH, CPE | Rafael Saenz, PharmD, MS, FASHP
In order to change outcomes, we must come together to support and collaborate on efforts that will yield results. Local, state, and national leaders will share their vision of the path forward.
10:00 am – 10:25 am
Short Session 1 – Academic: Formando Puentes Lingüísticos: Prioritizing Medical Spanish Proficiency
Grand Ballroom D
Speaker: Carlos O’Bryan-Beccera, M.D., FAAFP
Language concordance (when patients and physicians speak the same language) is associated with improved quality of care. This presentation will review the current evidence behind formal assessments of non-English language proficiency and describe creative strategies for improving medical Spanish fluency.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Track A: Academic/Education: Breaking Barriers, Advancing Disability Inclusion in Medicine Through Policy and Advocacy – LMSA Session
Grand Ballroom A
Speaker: Marie Flores, M.D., Ph.D., MPH
This workshop will highlight the intersection of disability and medicine, focusing on the role of policy and advocacy in creating sustainable change.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Track B: Community: Familismo in Nutrition: Bridging Health Disparities and Tailoring Lifestyle Change Counseling to Support Hispanic and Latinx Child Health
Grand Ballroom B
Speakers: Andie Gonzalez, Ph.D., MPH, RDN, LD, FAND | José Cucalón Calderón, M.D. FAAP
Familismo is a cultural value that emphasizes the importance of family in Hispanic and Latinx communities. This session introduces motivational interviewing techniques adapted for Hispanic and Latinx populations to improve child health outcomes.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Track C: Clinical: Fatty Liver in the Latino Community: From Simple Steatosis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Grand Ballroom C
Speakers: Edward Mena, M.D., MBA | Vanessa Torres, Ph.D. | Julio Gutierrez, M.D.
This session will address critical issues surrounding liver health disparities in the Latino community and provide actionable strategies for improving outcomes.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Track D: Advocacy: Why Health Care Leadership Needs All Voices – The Best Path to Health Equity
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Speaker: Michellene Davis, Esq. This session explores the critical need for all voices and expert opinions to be considered in creating a positive health care ecosystem.
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Learning Lab/Exhibit Hall – Flavors of Change: How California’s Policies are Shaping the Future of Youth Nicotine and Tobacco Access
Exhibit Hall
Speakers: José Cucalón Calderón M.D., FAAP | Claire Braeburn | Monika Gracian MPH
Join the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for an important conversation on California’s leadership in reducing flavored nicotine and tobacco sales and limiting youth access to vaping. This discussion will highlight how the state’s bold flavored tobacco ban is protecting youth, particularly Latino communities, from targeted marketing and nicotine addiction, while exploring the broader implications for public health policy nationwide. Panelists will examine the urgency of regulating flavored tobacco, the impact of California’s flavored tobacco ban (SB 793), and the critical need to safeguard youth from addiction.
12:00 pm – 1:20 pm
Lunch Session: Resilient Voices: Unity and Advocacy in the Latino Experience
This session reflects on the challenges faced by communities impacted by California wildfires and honors the unwavering dedication of doctors, first responders, and public servants.
Grand Ballroom EF
Speakers: John Rodarte, M.D. | Ilan Shapiro, M.D.
1:30 pm – 1:55 pm
Short Session 2 – Clinical: Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership NHMA Scholars
Grand D
Speakers: Emma Oliveira, M.D. | Jenny Ruiz, M.D., MSCE | Pamela Montano, M.D. | Elizabeth Homan – Sandoval, M.D.
The Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership (WEL) Scholars represent a multi-specialty group of early to mid-career, diverse, accomplished women from 10 national organizations organized through the American Academy of Pediatrics. WEL is a collaborative effort aimed to create a more equitable work experience for women physicians through professional development, mentorship, and leadership training. The National Hispanic Medical Association is one of the active partners which comprise WEL and selects scholars from within NHMA to represent our organization in the WEL program. In this session we will have our own NHMA WEL scholars discuss their experiences, lessons learned, and accomplishments through the WEL program. Come learn more about the program and consider applying for future cohorts of NHMA WEL Scholars.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track A: Academic/Education: Proyecto De Sangre/Bloodline Project: Assessing the Experiences of Spanish-Speaking Hispanic/Latinx Patients and Caregivers when Diagnosed with a Blood Disorder
Grand Ballroom A
Speaker: Beatriz Caceres-Nazario, M.D.
To comprehensively understand the inequities in healthcare that affect the growing population of Spanish-speaking Hispanic individuals in the United States, efforts should be made to incorporate first-person verbal accounts of their experiences in this medical context. With this in mind and focusing on patients with non-cancerous blood disorders, we are conducting two-phase qualitative research titled Proyecto De Sangre (Project Bloodline). For both phases, we audio-recorded semi-structured interviews in Spanish with 20 adult patients and 20 adult caregivers of pediatric patients with a known or suspected blood disorder evaluated by the adult and pediatric hematology groups at a medium-sized academic center. Through narrative inquiry, we explored the crucial events surrounding the diagnosis and management of these disorders. The analysis was performed using the coding software MAXQDA, which employed both inductive and deductive thematic coding, along with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI), to maximize the number of codes and broaden the discussion.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track B: Community: Addressing Health Disparities through Street Medicine: A Social Medicine & Health Equity Approach
Grand Ballroom B
Speaker: Victor Cisneros, M.D., MPH, CPH, FAAEM
This session introduces the critical role that street medicine plays in addressing health disparities among the unsheltered and vulnerable populations. Rooted in the principles of social medicine, street medicine seeks to deliver care directly to individuals who face substantial barriers to traditional health care settings. Participants will gain an understanding of how social and economic conditions, such as homelessness, food insecurity and lack of transportation impact individual and community health and how these factors are addressed by mobile health care interventions.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track C: Clinical: Point-of-Care Ultrasound Educational Initiatives at the Mexico-U.S. Border
Grand Ballroom C
Speaker: Eva Tovar, M.D., MPH, AEMUS-FPD
This lecture explores cross-border educational initiatives in Northwest Mexico, integrating a longitudinal one-year POCUS curriculum for residents, medical students, and prehospital personnel. It highlights a blended learning approach, combining an asynchronous web-based platform utilizing FOAMed in Spanish with hands-on monthly workshops. The session discusses curriculum design, implementation challenges, and the impact on clinical skills development in resource-limited settings. Emphasis is placed on fostering sustainable education, improving diagnostic capabilities, and strengthening emergency care. Attendees will gain insights into effective POCUS training models that enhance cross-border collaboration and empower healthcare providers with essential ultrasound skills.
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Break – Exhibit Hall
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Track A: Academic/Education: Beyond Diversity Recruitment: Next Steps to Ensure that Underrepresented Emergency Medicine Residents Thrive
Grand Ballroom A
Speaker: Rose Diaz, M.D., MPH | Gilbert Burgos M.D., MPH
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Track B: Community: Diversity and Inclusion: The Role of Multicultural Physician Voices
Speaker: Winston Wong, M.D., MS, FAAFP, Gilbert Burgos, M.D., MPH
Grand Ballroom B
In the face of growing social and political divisions, the Alliance of Multicultural Physicians (AMP) was founded in 2016 to unite physicians of color, co-advocate, and build relationships to address rising health disparities. This panel brings together leaders from AMP, the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP), the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), and the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) to discuss the urgent need for collaboration in reducing health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. Panelists will focus on clinical trial diversity, cultural competency, and the role of health policy in addressing these disparities. The session will feature brief presentations, followed by interactive Q&A, offering actionable strategies for advancing health equity through collective action.
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Track C: Clinical: Barriers to Optimizing HIV Treatment and Prevention and the Role of PrEP in Latino Communities: A Healthcare Providers (HCP) and Community Perspective.
Grand Ballroom C
Speakers: Karla F. Torres, M.D., FNP, AAHIVS | Raul Macias Gil, M.D. | Robert Fontanilla, MSPAS, MPH, PA-C, AAHIVS | Martha Robles
A moderated panel discussion with HIV specialized clinicians, a seasoned peer navigator, and a retention specialist. Framed as a retrospective case review, we will navigate the HCP’s and community workers culturally appropriate best practices and interventions to serving the Latino community when providing or receiving HIV care and prevention services. Through this methodological review, we will examine how different biomedical prevention options can address the HIV stigma. We will review the responsibility of healthcare providers in offering all available options and the importance of patients participating and advocating for their healthcare. Case reviews will wrap with a call to action for how each member of the care team and community can show up to actively work towards improving outcomes.
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Track D: Advocacy: Nutrition Health Ethics: Sustainable Food Safety — Cultivating Transparency with Informed Consent
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Speaker: Lourdes Bahamonde, D.O., MS
Understanding the connection between food & health– having completed a 3-year ACGME fellowship in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition in New York, after a bachelor’s & master’s education in Los Angeles, now back in LA in a GI sola, private practice with a diverse patient population, I have a new gained perspective about the critical impact that access to nutritious food has to our health & resilience. By way of a GI-Nutrition Ethics Case Series, as a bilingual, bicultural Latina gastroenterologist, we will discuss a case-based narrative highlighting the ethical dilemmas faced by all who care for patients without sociopolitical determinants of health, including access to clean water or clean food. We will deconstruct the principle of social justice in ethical decision-making & make the case for patient autonomy by way of informed consent as essential in matters of nutritional healing– with food as medicine, as a preferred, cost-effective option, especially in underserved communities underrepresented in medicine.
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Surgical and Medical Oncology Management of Gastric Cancer – A Grand Rounds Session – Presented by the Latino Surgical Society
Grand D
Speaker: Antonio Picon M.D., FACS
This session covers trends in treating gastric cancer, including neoadjuvant therapy and surgical management.
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Short Session: Revolutionizing Health Care: Genomic Testing and Personalized Medicine for the Hispanic Community
Grand D
Speaker: Cesar Rolon
This session examines the role of genomic testing in personalized medicine and its impact on Hispanic health.
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Poster Presentations/Meet Your Match Activity/Reception
Marquis Ballroom – Exhibit Hall
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
VIP Reception – Invitation Only
Suite 312
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Centene Dinner – Invitation Only
Day Three – Saturday, June 7, 2025
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Registration – Marquis Ballroom Foyer
7:00 am – 8:00 am
Sunrise Yoga (limited availability) – Exhibit Hall
7:30 am – 8:45 am
Breakfast – Foyer | Exhibit Hall
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Financial Literacy for Healthcare Professionals
Speaker: Carlos Gongora, M.D., FACC
9:00 am – 10:30 am
General Session – NHMA: Advancing the Future of Latino Health Summit
Speakers: Elizabeth Lee Rey, M.D. | Yolangel Hernandez-Suarez, M.D., MDA, FACOG | Nereida Correa, M.D.
Grand Ballroom EF
Speakers will review the NHMA 2024 Survey on organizational direction, hear from board members regarding progress to date and from the executive director about the future of the organization.
10:45 am – 11:45 am
Track A: Academic/Education: Exploring Factors that Lead to Disproportionate Rates of Medical Student Attrition: A Qualitative Study – Grand A
Speakers: Margarita Loeza, M.D. | Rose Diaz, M.D., MPH
This session will discuss factors that contribute to medical student attrition and how to address them.
10:45 am – 11:45 am
Track B: Community: Ending the HIV Epidemic – Elite 2
Speaker: Corie Cruz-Beniasians, PA-C, MS-PA, AAHIVE
This session will address educational gaps in HIV treatment and prevention awareness and ultimately contribute to narrowing gaps in care, equipping providers with the knowledge and tools necessary to address HIV as a public health issue and improve patient outcomes.
10:45 am – 11:45 am
Track C: Clinical: Code to Care: Utilizing Genomics to Uncover and Address Health Disparities in Mestizo Populations – Elite 3
Speaker: Pedro Sanchez, M.D., MSCE, FAAP, FACMG
This session will address the intersection of genomics and health disparities.
10:45 am – 11:45 am
Track D: Advocacy: Partnering to Champion Mental Health Treatment Over Criminalization: Intro to the Judges and Psychiatrist Leadership Initiative – Elite 1
Speaker: Elizabeth Homan-Sandoval, M.D., MPH
The Judges and Psychiatrist Leadership Initiative partnered with the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, and the Psychiatric Leadership Group for Criminal Justice to develop Judicial Work at the Interface of Mental Health & Criminal Justice, a training module for judges on addressing behavioral health issues when they arise in the courtroom. The training has been presented to more than 1,000 judges from 22 states and Washington, DC. Pairs of judges and psychiatrists from around the country have also been trained to present the module. Past NHMA Board Member Elizabeth Homan Sandoval, MD, MPH, will discuss the initiative, the experience as a dyad for Iowa and Missouri, and highlight data including statistics for Latinos/Hispanics in the US. Judges from two separate states will also join to discuss the initiative and how it has impacted championing decreasing overrepresentation of individuals with serious mental health involved in the justice system in the US.
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Celebrating Latino Physicians – National Latino Physicians Day Lunch Session – Grand Ballroom EF
Speakers: Michael Galvez, M.D. | Margarita Loeza, M.D., MPH
Latino doctors play a critical role in providing culturally and linguistically competent care, addressing health disparities and serving underserved communities. Yet Latinos remain significantly underrepresented in medicine. The NLPD Campaign confronts the systemic barriers—such as the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies that hinder Latino students and professionals from entering and thriving in the medical field.
This session will explore how the NLPD Campaign is raising national awareness, mobilizing support, and calling for policies that expand opportunities for Latino premed students, medical students, residents and physicians. Attendees will hear from leaders advancing this movement and leave with actionable strategies to support the pipeline and advocate for a health care workforce that reflects the communities they serve.
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Recognizing Latino Leaders: Leadership Fellowship Program Policy Paper Presentations – Grand Ballroom EF
Presented by: Diana Torres Burgos, M.D., MPH, and Mark Diaz, M.D., Chair of the Board of Directors, National Hispanic Health Foundation
Fellows will present their comprehensive policy analysis research and evidence-based recommendations on critical topics, including Workforce Diversity and Access to Women’s Health Care.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track A: Academic/Education: Furthering Your Career Through Research and Publications: The NHMA Journal
Grand A
Speakers: Nereida Correa, M.D. | Bert Johansson, M.D. | Nora Esteban-Cruciani, M.D.
The Editorial Board of the Journal of the National Hispanic Medical Association (JNHMA) will demonstrate the process of receiving, reviewing and preparing articles for publication. They will provide instructions on the preparation and submission of papers for publication, including a practice session on creating an abstract for publication of your presentations utilizing a recommended format. They encourage those interested in becoming reviewers and those interested in submitting their research to attend.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track B: Community: DEI, Policy and Advocacy Efforts in Our Current Political Environment – Grand B
Speakers: Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava | Marvin B. Figueroa | Joyce Richey, Ph.D. | Jonathan Cohen, J.D.
The 2023 Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admissions has sparked nationwide conversations about the future of diversity efforts in medical and STEM education and the workplace. While the ruling marks a significant shift, it also presents an opportunity to reimagine how institutions can achieve inclusive excellence through innovative, compliant, and sustainable strategies. This session will bring together leaders in medical education, policy, and advocacy to explore actionable solutions for advancing equity and fostering diverse environments in the new legal landscape.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track C: Clinical: Advancing Latine Health by Increasing the Latine Clinical Research Pathway – Grand C
Speakers: Jenny Ruiz, M.D., MSCE | Sonia Morales, M.D., MPH
Latine physicians pursuing clinical research as a career pathway are underrepresented in academic medicine. Recruiting and retaining diverse researchers is essential to eliminate healthcare disparities. In this workshop, two junior clinician-scientists (Dr. Jenny Ruiz and Dr. Sonia Morales) will define what clinical research is, review grant opportunities for trainees, and discuss successful scholarship products. Along the way, we will share relevant personal stories on how we successfully pursued clinical research. We will engage with the audience using web-based audience response system.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Track D: Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action – Elite 1
Speakers: Michelle Cabrera, M.D., FACOG | Norma Perez, M.D. | Adriana Ramirez, M.D. | Mirella Díaz – Santos, Ph.D. | Sarah López, M.D., MBA | Erica Lubliner, M.D. | Sonia Oyola, M.D., ABOIM
This panel will explore the intersection of identity, culture, and advocacy in medicine, focusing on the roles of women physicians and providers in a complex healthcare system. It will examine the challenges faced by Latina patients and professionals, highlighting systemic barriers that impact care and professional experiences. The discussion will offer strategies for fostering cultural humility and advancing health justice for Latina communities.
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Short Session 4: Recognizing and Understanding Primary Immunodeficiencies – Elite 2
Speaker: Vivian Hernandez – Trujillo, M.D.
This session will offer an essential overview of primary immunodeficiencies (PI), also known as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), tailored for Hispanic clinicians serving the Hispanic population in the United States. It will focus on the most prevalent types of PI, covering general diagnosis, treatment approaches, and crucial warning signs that clinicians should be aware of. Attendees will gain valuable insights into identifying potential cases of undiagnosed PI in their practice, enhancing their role in early detection, treatment, and patient care, while considering the specific cultural and linguistic barriers within the Hispanic community.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Council of Residents (COR) Meeting – Elite 3
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
CYP Meeting – Elite 1
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LMSA & NHMA Board Meeting – Closed door session – Elite 2
5:15 pm – 6:00 pm
Uplift Experience – Grand Ballroom GK
Join us for this fun and interactive activity focused on building belonging! And includes a chance to win some great prizes!
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Reception – Silent Auction – Grand Ballroom GK
7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
A Celebration of Unity Gala & Dinner – Grand Ballroom EF
Step into an inspiring evening where Latino voices unite to champion healthier communities. This semi-formal celebration opens with keynote remarks from The Honorable Xavier Becerra, former U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, as he accepts NHMA’s Lifetime Supporter recognition for his unwavering advocacy. Adding star power and heart, Adassa—the acclaimed voice of Encanto and tireless health-equity champion—joins us to shine a spotlight on Latino wellness. The night continues with the Campeón de la Salud Award presented to Luis “El Matador” Hernández—legendary LA Galaxy striker and Mexico’s fourth-highest FIFA World Cup goal scorer—honoring his leadership as a vaccine advocate across our communities. We’ll also salute NHMA’s outstanding physicians and partners whose work is transforming care for Hispanic and underserved populations. Raise your voice and celebrate those moving Latino health forward.