KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Xavier Becerra
Former HHS Secretary and current candidate for Calif. Governor
Uniting with us at the NHMA Gala
Xavier Becerra was the 25th Secretary of Health and Human Services andthe first Latino to hold the position. As Secretary, he is focused on ensuring health security and access to health care for all Americans. Before this, Mr. Becerra served as California’s Attorney General and spent 12 terms in Congress, where he championed health care reforms, including the ACA, Medicare cost-saving programs and measures to improve patient safety.
Mr. Becerra has been a leader in promoting affordable health care, protecting patient rights and combating fraud, including during the pandemic. His work also targeted pharmaceutical companies and the opioid crisis. A Stanford graduate, Becerra comes from a working-class family and is committed to advancing health equity.
Diana E. Ramos, M.D., MPH
Office of the California Surgeon General
Recognizing Latino Leaders: Leadership Fellowship Program – Policy Paper Presentations
Diana E. Ramos, M.D., is California’s second Surgeon General and the first Latina to hold the position. She is a leader in public health, advocating for the well-being of all Californians. Dr. Ramos earned her medical degree from Keck University of Southern California, completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology, and holds degrees in public health and business administration. With over three decades of experience in reproductive care and public health leadership, she has contributed extensively to medical literature and policy. Dr. Ramos was awarded the 2024 Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Public Service and Health.
Dr. Ramos’ leadership spans the local level in Los Angeles County, where she previously served as the Director for Reproductive Health, to state leadership as the prior chair for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, California & Ecuador (IX) District. Nationally, she has contributed to the Women’s Preventive Service Initiative, the American Medical Association Foundation board, as a prior executive board member for the National Hispanic Medical Association and many others. Prior to her appointment as the California Surgeon General, she served as the Assistant Deputy Director of Chronic Disease Prevention for the California Department of Public Health.
Natalie Rubalcava
Councilwoman, Welcome from Local and National Dignitaries
Natalie Rubalcava serves on the Anaheim City Council, representing District 3. Elected in 2022, she previously served as mayor pro tem and has a long history of civic leadership, including roles on Anaheim’s Housing and Community Development Commission and Community Services Board. A fourth-generation Anaheim resident, Ms. Rubalcava focuses on addressing homelessness, enhancing public safety, creating good-paying jobs and improving city infrastructure. She is the former COO of the Orange County Business Council and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a law degree. Ms. Rubalcava remains deeply engaged in her community through service on multiple nonprofit boards and as a Girl Scout troop leader.
Luis “El Matador” Hernández
Uniting with us at the NHMA Gala
Luis “El Matador” Hernández is a former Mexican professional footballer, widely regarded as one of the country’s most talented strikers. A former LA Galaxy player and Mexico’s all-time leading FIFA World Cup goal scorer, he is also the country’s fourth all-time goal scorer. Currently, Hernández serves as a vaccine advocate within the Latino community. For his advocacy, he is receiving NHMA’s “Campeón de la Salud” award at the NHMA Gala.
Adassa
Uniting with us at the NHMA Gala
From animation to arena performances at Madison Square Garden, Adassa is a bilingual Afro-Latin voice actress, singer and songwriter. She first emerged as a talent in McDonald’s national “Me Encanta” campaign and later landed commercial roles with brands like Toyota and Procter & Gamble’s Secret. Adassa’s dynamic four-octave vocal range and artistry have resulted in – performances on songs with Pitbull, Flo Rida, Snoop Dogg, Daddy Yankee, Ciara, Missy Elliott and Luis Fonsi, among others. In addition to her vocal prowess, Adassa is a sought-after lyricist, having written for the catalogs of Warner, Universal and Sony. Today, Adassa is becoming known for playing Dolores in Disney’s Golden Globe, Billboard and Oscar-winning film “Encanto.”SESSION SPEAKERS
Kimberly Avila Edwards, M.D., FAAP
Centene – Saint Louis, MO
Community: Familismo in Nutrition: Bridging Health Disparities and Tailoring Lifestyle Change Counseling to Support Hispanic and Latinx Child Health
Kimberly C. Avila Edwards, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics at Dell Medical School, where she leads advocacy efforts. A Harvard Medical School graduate, she focuses on health equity, obesity, immunization and eating disorders. She has been honored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Pediatric Society for her leadership in pediatric health.
Lourdes G. Bahamonde, D.O.
Advocacy: Nutrition Health Ethics: Sustainable Food Safety—Cultivating Transparency with Informed Consent
Lourdes Bahamonde, D.O., is a board-certified gastroenterologist and internist with specialized training in gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. She completed her medical education at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by residency in Internal Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and fellowships in Medical Ethics and Gastroenterology within the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Dr. Bahamonde is bilingual in English and Spanish and is committed to delivering culturally responsive care and advancing digestive health.
Gilbert Burgos, M.D., MPH, CPE
Chairman and Interim President, NHMA
Executive Director of Medical Affairs, Elderplan/HomeFirst
Welcome Session: Uniting Voices from the Local, State, and National Levels to Advance Latino Health
Academic/Education: Beyond Diversity Recruitment: Next Steps to Ensure that Underrepresented Emergency Medicine Residents Thrive
Recognizing Latino Leaders: Leadership Fellowship Program Policy Paper Presentations
Dr. Gilbert Burgos is the Chairman and Interim President of NHMA and Executive Director of Medical Affairs at Elderplan/HomeFirst. With over 20 years of experience, he has led health systems and programs to improve healthcare access, including the DSRIP program in New York. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University.
Claire Braeburn
Executive Director and Co-Founder, America On Track
Claire Braeburn Learning Lab/Exhibit Hall – Flavors of Change: How California’s Policies are Shaping the Future of Youth Nicotine and Tobacco Access
Claire Braeburn is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of America On Track, an award-winning nonprofit organization. With a background in computer technology, public speaking, and marketing, Claire helped launch the organization and establish its infrastructure. Alongside her co-founder, Terry Thompson, Claire has received multiple awards for their youth, fitness, and tobacco/drug prevention programs, including the President’s Service Award.
Beatriz Cáceres-Nazario, M.D.
University of North Carolina
Academic/Education: Proyecto De Sangre/Bloodline Project: Assessing the Experiences of Spanish-Speaking Hispanic/Latinx Patients and Caregivers when Diagnosed with a Blood Disorder
Beatriz Cáceres-Nazario, M.D., was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she completed her medical degree and residency training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. She is currently completing combined Adult and Pediatric Hematology fellowships at the University of North Carolina. Her research centers on the use of qualitative methods to explore the health care experiences of Hispanic/Latino patients with limited English proficiency. She has also published on topics including hemophilia, bone marrow failure syndromes and rare hematopoietic disorders. Following her fellowship, she will be joining Saint Mary’s Hospital in Richmond as a classical hematologist.
Michelle Cabrera, M.D., FACOG
Huntington Health
Advocacy: Women’s Health Session: Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health
Michelle Cabrera, M.D., is a passionate advocate for health equity and cultural inclusion. She serves as clinical faculty for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars Sinai, while practicing as an OB/GYN. In this dual role, she provides care, mentors residents, and leads initiatives focused on women’s health and health equity. Dr. Cabrera also holds an adjunct faculty appointment at Touro University’s Physician Assistant Program.
With over a decade of experience, Dr. Cabrera has worked in private practice, federally qualified health centers, rural communities, and as an OB/GYN hospitalist. She previously served as Director of Women’s Health Services at TrueCare and as Lead Physician at UCLA Health Pasadena OB/GYN. Dr. Cabrera is committed to advancing health equity and providing culturally sensitive, patient-centered care.
Victor Cisneros, M.D., MPH, CPH
Eisenhower Health
Addressing Health Disparities through Street Medicine: A Social Medicine and Health Equity Approach
Jonathan Cohen, J.D., MPhil
Institute on Inequalities in Global Health at the University of Southern California
Community: DEI, Policy and Advocacy Efforts in Our Current Political Environment
Jonathan Cohen, J.D., MPhil, is clinical professor and director of policy engagement at the Institute on Inequalities in Global Health at USC. He also serves on the board of directors for HelpAge USA. Formerly, he was the director of the Public Health Program at Open Society Foundations, managing a $39 million annual budget focused on social inclusion and democratic health policy. Dr. Cohen has published widely on the structural determinants of health and currently leads The Health and Human Rights Oral History Project. Earlier in his career, he worked with Human Rights Watch on HIV/AIDS and human rights.
Corie Cruz-Beniasians, PA-C, MS-PA, AAHIVE
Gilead Sciences
Community: Ending the HIV Epidemic
Corie Cruz-Beniasians is a certified physician associate with experience in internal medicine, correctional health, and HIV treatment and prevention. For more than 17 years, she has served LGBTQ+ and underserved communities, working to expand equitable access to care.
She began her career in Los Angeles, participating in early Truvada clinical trials, and later moved to Florida to focus on PrEP advocacy and care for racial and gender minorities. She co-founded World of Women, a support space for women of color navigating healthcare and HIV prevention.
She has also developed LGBTQ+ health curricula as an adjunct professor and now serves as an HIV medical scientist at Gilead Sciences, covering parts of the Southwest. She remains committed to education and advocacy around HIV and sexual health.
Nereida Correa, M.D.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
General Session – NHMA Advocacy and Leadership Review
Nereida Correa, M.D., is chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx and a faculty member at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in both OB/GYN and Family Medicine. Beginning her career as a registered nurse, Dr. Correa now mentors students and residents, while continuing to provide care, perform surgery and deliver babies in her community.
José Cucalón Calderón, M.D., FAAP
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Community: Familismo in Nutrition: Bridging Health Disparities and Tailoring Lifestyle Change Counseling to Support Hispanic and Latinx Child Health
José R. Cucalón Calderón, M.D., FAAP, is a general pediatrician at Renown Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Bilingual and bicultural, Dr. Cucalón Calderón is deeply engaged in advancing Latino health, from improving vaccination rates to expanding access to mental health care. He directs the Spanish for Medical Professionals elective at UNR Med and helped launch the new pediatric residency program. An NHMA health care leadership fellow, he is the developer, founder and current co-chair of the NHMA Nevada Chapter, leading efforts to support Latinx communities at both the local and national levels.
Michellene Davis, Esq.
President and CEO of National Medical Fellowships, Inc.
Advocacy: Why Health Care Leadership Needs All Voices – The Best Path to Health Equity
Michellene Davis, Esq. is president and CEO of National Medical Fellowships, Inc. (NMF) and a nationally recognized leader in health care and social impact. She was named among Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Most Influential Minority Leaders.
Ms. Davis previously served as executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer at RWJBarnabas Health, where she founded an equity-centered community health initiative. A former New Jersey state treasurer and published author, Ms. Davis is a graduate of Seton Hall University and holds executive certificates from Harvard and Wharton.
Rose Diaz, M.D., MPH
Emergency Medicine at UCLA
Academic/Education: Beyond Diversity Recruitment: Next Steps to Ensure that Underrepresented Emergency Medicine Residents Thrive
Rose Diaz, M.D., MPH, is an emergency medicine physician and Assistant Professor at both UCLA and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She also serves as an attending physician at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Diaz completed her residency at the University of Michigan and later the International and Domestic Health Equity and Leadership (IDHEAL) Fellowship at UCLA. Her research and public health work focus on advancing health equity through community-based approaches.
Mark Diaz, M.D.
National Hispanic Health Foundation
Recognizing Latino Leaders: Leadership Fellowship Program – Policy Paper Presentations
Mark Diaz, M.D., co-founded UC Davis’s Latino pre-medical club, Chicanos/Latinos in Health Education (CHE), in 1972 and Clínica Tepati, a free clinic for Spanish-speaking patients, in 1974. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1979 and completed a family medicine residency and Song-Brown fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center. He is board certified in family and occupational medicine.
Dr. Diaz is a founding member of the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National Hispanic Health Foundation (where he is currently chair) and the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association (where he is currently a board member).
He is a volunteer clinical professor at the UC Davis School of Medicine and a volunteer assistant clinical professor at California Northstate University College of Medicine. Dr. Diaz also serves on the alumni boards of UC Davis, UC San Francisco and the University of California Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association. He is currently a medical consultant for the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
Mirella Díaz-Santos, Ph.D.
UCLA DGSOM
Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action
Mirella Díaz-Santos, Ph.D., is a bilingual and bicultural neuropsychologist and an Assistant Professor In-Residence in the Department of Neurology at UCLA DGSOM. Dr. Díaz-Santos is the director and founder of the “Equity for Latinx-Hispanic Healthy Aging (ELHA) Lab” at the UCLA Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care. Her research focuses on implementing multi-level interventions to foster greater accessibility to dementia clinical care and trials for Spanish-speaking Latino/a/e and Hispanic communities.
Nora Esteban-Cruciani, MD, MS, FAAP
Academic/Education: Furthering Your Career Through Research and Publications: The NHMA Journal
Dr. Nora Esteban-Cruciani is a board-certified pediatrician and hospital medicine physician leader. She was an NHMA Leadership Fellow. Currently, she is the Medical Director of the Perinatal Newborn Unit at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Jefferson University, and is serving at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia. She has dedicated her career to improving the well-being of vulnerable children and to teaching and mentoring underrepresented medical trainees.
Marvin Figueroa
BCR Group
Community: DEI, Policy and Advocacy Efforts in our Current Political Environment
Marvin Figueroa is a Vice President at BCR Group, based in Washington, D.C., with deep expertise in health care policy, state and local advocacy and federal government affairs. He brings a wealth of experience from roles in the U.S. Senate, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Virginia Governor’s Office and the Hillary for America campaign, consistently demonstrating the ability to work across diverse stakeholders to advance impactful health policy initiatives.
Marie E.S. Flores, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Faculty for AltaMed’s Family Medicine Residency Program
Academic/Education: Breaking Barriers Advancing Disability Inclusion in Medicine Through Policy and Advocacy – LMSA Session
Marie E.S. Flores, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., is a board-certified family medicine physician at AltaMed and an assistant researcher at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health for the Parkinson’s Environment and Genes Brain and Gut Study. She serves as faculty lead for scholarly activity and research and mentors residents and fellows in AltaMed’s Family Medicine Residency and Community Engaged Physician Fellowship Programs. Dr. Flores is deeply committed to advancing health equity, with professional interests in primary care for underserved communities, reproductive justice, disability access and Latino health research. She holds degrees from Davidson College, UCLA and the University of Utah, and lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Lana Frantzen, Ph.D.
Vice President of Nutrition Affairs, National Dairy Council
Preconference Workshop 3: Culinary Medicine from Physician to Patient: How to Drive Impact with Nuestros Sabores
Lana Frantzen, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Nutrition Affairs at the National Dairy Council, where she leads Hispanic thought leadership outreach and collaborates with key healthcare organizations, including the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. With a passion for cultural representation in healthcare, Dr. Frantzen has pioneered initiatives such as the “Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with MiPlato” Symposium and the Nuestros Sabores project, in collaboration with LAHIDAN. She has extensive experience in physician education, including launching the Physician Education Initiative to reach over 7,000 physicians in Texas, focusing on heart health and culturally relevant nutrition. Throughout her career, Dr. Frantzen has been instrumental in building relationships with influential partners, advocating for sustainability, and promoting dairy’s essential role in health and wellness.
Robert Fontanilla, MSPAS, MPH, PA-C, AAHIVS
Barriers to Optimizing HIV Treatment and Prevention and the role of PrEP in Latino Communities: A Healthcare Providers (HCP) and Community Perspective
Robert Fontanilla, MSPAS, MPH, PA-C, AAHIVS, is a high-performance PA with over 10 years of experience treating specialty patients from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B & C, transgender, and addiction medicine. A dedicated educator, he teaches future medical providers and is passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ community, specializing in hormone therapy and gender-affirming care. Mr. Fontanilla worked for seven years at a clinic designated as a “Center of Excellence for Transgender Care” and has been trained by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). He is also an adjunct professor at Marshall B. Ketchum University and California Baptist University, where he teaches Transgender and Gender-Diverse courses.
Jessica Fugimoto, M.D., FAAEM
Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, UCSF
Preconference Workshop 2: Ultrasound Workshop
Jessica Fugimoto, M.D., is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCSF and serves as the Assistant Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at UCSF Fresno. She is also the Co-Director of Simulation at UCSF Fresno. Dr. Fugimoto earned her medical degree from New York Medical College and completed her residency at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, where she was named Chief Resident. She furthered her expertise with a fellowship in Medical Education and Research at UCSF Fresno. Board-certified in Emergency Medicine, Dr. Fugimoto is committed to advancing both clinical care and medical education.
Michael Galvez, M.D., FACS
Valley Children’s Hospital
Celebrating Latino Physicians – National Latino Physicians Day Lunch Session
Michael Galvez, M.D., FACS, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with advanced training in pediatric hand surgery. He earned his undergraduate degree in molecular and cellular biology from UC Berkeley and his medical degree from Stanford University, where he also completed a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research fellowship and residency in plastic surgery. Dr. Galvez pursued additional fellowships in hand and microvascular surgery at the University of Washington and in pediatric upper extremity surgery at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.
Dr. Galvez is the Director of Pediatric Hand Surgery at Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera, California, and is dedicated to improving health care access and mentoring future medical professionals.
Carlos Gongora, M.D., FACC
Clinical Director, Cardio-Oncology Program, Montefiore Medical Center
Financial Literacy for Healthcare Professionals
Carlos Gongora, M.D., FACC is a cardiologist and cardio-oncologist at Montefiore Medical Center and a faculty member at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has led cardiovascular health initiatives for the Latino community in the U.S. and Mexico. Dr. Gongora completed fellowships in Cardiac Imaging and Cardio-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on cardiotoxicity in cancer patients and COVID-19 cardiac involvement. He is dedicated to improving health access for underserved populations in the Bronx and promoting cardiovascular health education.
Andie Gonzalez, Ph.D., MPH, RDN, LD, FAND
Abbott
Community: Familismo in Nutrition: Bridging Health Disparities and Tailoring Lifestyle Change Counseling to Support Hispanic and Latinx Child Health
Andie Lee Gonzalez, Ph.D., MPH, RDN, LD, FAND, is a seasoned dietitian, researcher and public health advocate with over 20 years of experience across clinical, industry and community sectors. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, she currently leads cross-functional initiatives focused on KOL engagement, education and advocacy, strategic communications and pediatric nutrition program development. As a co-founder and mentor, Dr. Gonzalez is dedicated to empowering the next generation of dietitians and health care leaders, bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world application to advance nutrition, health care and public health outcomes.
Monika Gracian, MPH
California Health Collaborative
Learning Lab/Exhibit Hall – Flavors of Change: How California’s Policies are Shaping the Future of Youth Nicotine and Tobacco Access
Monika Gracian, MPH, is director of program services at the California Health Collaborative, where she oversees multiple public health initiatives in Southern California, including tobacco control, sex education, and health equity projects. She joined the organization in 2018.
Monika previously worked with the Alameda County Department of Public Health and holds degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California. She is currently pursuing a DrPH at Claremont Graduate University.
Julio Gutierrez, M.D.
Track C: Clinical: Fatty Liver in the Latino Community: From Simple Steatosis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Julio Gutierrez, M.D, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Transplant Hepatologist at Scripps Clinic, with nationally recognized expertise in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver transplantation. He leads comprehensive outreach efforts across San Diego and Southern California to expand care to the medically underserved.
In his clinical practice, Dr. Gutierrez offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic care for patients with metabolic liver disease and its complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. He is particularly committed to improving access to specialty medications and serves as the Director of the Care Pathway at Scripps.
His research focuses on the development of novel point-of-care tools for early detection and risk stratification in steatosis liver disease, and he has substantial experience in clinical trial design, execution, and regulatory strategy, including phase 2 and 3.
Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, M.D.
Allergy and Immunology Care Center of South Florida
Short Session 4: Recognizing and Understanding Primary Immunodeficiencies
Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, M.D., is a board-certified specialist in Pediatrics and Allergy/Immunology with over 16 years of experience. She is the Medical Director of Allergy and Immunology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Associate Professor at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
A national and international lecturer, Dr. Hernandez-Trujillo specializes in pediatric food allergies, anaphylaxis and immunodeficiency, and has authored numerous publications in her field.
Yolangel Hernandez-Suarez, M.D., MDA, FACOG
Alice L. Walton School of Medicine
General Session – NHMA Advocacy and Leadership Review
Yolangel (Yogi) Hernandez-Suarez, M.D., MDA, FACOG, is Executive Vice Dean at the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, overseeing clinical and educational training. She previously served as Senior Associate Dean at FIU’s College of Medicine and led the university’s COVID-19 response. With over two decades of leadership across academic, public and private sectors, she has held roles at Jackson Health System and Humana. She earned her M.D. from Johns Hopkins, trained in OB/GYN at the University of Iowa and holds an MBA from the University of Miami.
Elizabeth Homan-Sandoval, M.D., MPH
Advocacy: Partnering to Champion Mental Health Treatment Over Criminalization: Intro to the Judges and Psychiatrist Leadership Initiative
Elizabeth Homan Sandoval, M.D., MPH, is an ABPN board-certified general psychiatrist and child and adolescent psychiatrist with a focus on cultural psychiatry and pediatric mental health care. She earned her undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Iowa and her MD from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, where she also earned a Master of Public Health. Dr. Homan Sandoval completed her general psychiatry residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Iowa.
Dr. Homan Sandoval is actively involved in national organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the National Hispanic Medical Association. She has served on the AACAP’s Committee on Integrated and Collaborative Care and chaired the Simon Wyle Symposium Award Speakers at the AACAP National Conference from 2021 to 2024. In 2021, she was awarded the AMA Women’s Wellness through Equity and Leadership 2.0 Fellowship.
A past executive director of the Latino Medical Student Association, Dr. Homan Sandoval is dedicated to mentoring and advocating for Latino medical students and professionals.
Juliana Jaramillo, M.D.
Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Preconference Workshop 2: Ultrasound Workshop
Juliana M. Jaramillo, M.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and serves as the Director of Off Service Resident Experiences. She completed her Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center and her residency at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, where she also earned her medical degree. Dr. Jaramillo is dedicated to advancing medical education and improving pediatric emergency care, with a focus on mentoring the next generation of health care professionals.
Bert Johansson, M.D.
President-elect of the Board, National Hispanic Medical Association
Roberto “Bert” Johansson, M.D., PhD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric critical care physician. He is President-elect of the Board of the National Hispanic Medical Association. Born to immigrants from Honduras via Puerto Rico, he is very proud of his family. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a medic; after serving, he continued his studies. Dr. Johansson earned his MD and PhD in Biomedical Engineering. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and The Arnold Gold Humanitarian Society. He completed a pediatric residency and Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship at Children’s Hospital of New York. The American Society for Microbiology awarded him an ICAAC Young Investigator Award, and he received an NIH Fogarty Fellowship for Influenza Research and several awards for teaching and patient advocacy.
Dr. Johansson, affectionately known as Dr. Bert, is noted for employing child’s play and humor as one method for evaluating his patients and applying the lessons learned in the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. He was part of the Child Advocacy Commission in New York State for 20 years and the MedCAREs Clinic for Child Abuse and Protection for 6 years in El Paso, Texas. Dr. Bert continues his work with migrant children in El Paso that began in New York and also provides medical care at the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence.
Elizabeth T. Lee-Rey, M.D., MPH
National Hispanic Medical Association
General Session – NHMA Advocacy and Leadership Review
Elizabeth T. Lee-Rey, M.D., is a family medicine physician and school doctor at Museum 25 School with a private practice in the Bronx. She is a leader in health equity, mentorship, and diversity in medicine. She studied at NYU, the University of Pittsburgh, Montefiore, and Columbia. Dr. Lee-Rey serves on the NHMA Executive Board and directs the Einstein Summer Mentorship Program.
Margarita Loeza, M.D.
Academic/Education: Exploring Factors That Lead to Disproportionate Rates of Medical Student Attrition: A Qualitative Study
Margarita Loeza, M.D., is the assistant dean of student affairs and admissions at Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine and Science. She is also involved with MiMentor, Latinx Physicians of California, and serves on several admissions committees.
With a background from UC San Diego and a family medicine residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Dr. Loeza has dedicated her career to mentoring and supporting future physicians. She has volunteered at Venice Family Clinic since 2001, led telehealth initiatives during the pandemic, and is passionate about improving health disparities in underserved communities.
Sarah Lopez, M.D.
California Department of Health Care Services
Health Equity and Medicaid Transformation
Session: Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action
Sarah Lopez, M.D., is a physician-leader focused on health equity, Medicaid transformation, and culturally responsive care in California. With 20 years of experience in emergency medicine, she currently serves as a Medical Consultant with the California Department of Health Care Services, where she helps design and implement the Population Health Management strategy, including the statewide Risk Stratification and Segmentation Tool (RSST) for over 14 million Medi-Cal members. Previously, Dr. Lopez was the founding Chief Medical Officer of Zócalo Health and served as the Patient Safety Officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She is an active member of the National Hispanic Medical Association, advocating for policy changes to improve access, equity, and representation for Latino communities in healthcare. A first-generation Latina college graduate and breast cancer survivor, Dr. Lopez is a recognized advocate for culturally responsive care and innovation in healthcare delivery.
Erica Lubliner, M.D.
UCLA Spanish Speaking Psychosocial Clinic
Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action
Erica Lubliner, M.D., grew up in an immigrant Latino community and was the first in her family to receive a higher education at UCLA, where she double-majored in History and Women’s Studies with a minor in Chicana/o Studies. She later attended the UC Irvine Post-Bacc Program and was admitted to the UCLA-Drew Program, where she took leadership roles in the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). Dra. Lubliner completed a combined adult and child adolescent psychiatry program at UCLA/VAGLA, working with diverse families in the community, military, and schools. She is currently the Director of the UCLA Spanish Speaking Psychosocial Clinic, providing culturally and linguistically responsive mental health care for Latinx patients. Her work includes exploring female medical student perspectives on their clinical interactions with female superiors, and she has held leadership roles in medical education throughout her career.
Raul Macias, M.D.
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA
Barriers to Optimizing HIV Treatment and Prevention: The Role of PrEP in Latino Communities
Dr. Raul Macias Gil is an Infectious Diseases specialist and Investigator at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He is also an assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Associate Program Director for the Infectious Diseases Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA. His research focuses on improving test-to-treat strategies for COVID-19 and advancing HIV and STI prevention among Hispanic/Latinx and other communities disproportionately impacted by these infections.
Dr. Macias Gil serves as Chair of the LGBTQIA+ Interest Group for the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and as a member of the department of medicine’s DEI committee at Harbor-UCLA. His work addresses critical barriers to HIV prevention and treatment, with a focus on culturally tailored strategies for the Latino community.
Edward Mena, M.D.
California Liver Research Institute
Clinical: Fatty Liver in the Latino Community: From Simple Steatosis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Edward Mena, M.D., is a leading hepatologist managing 50% of California’s liver-related care. As medical director of Pasadena Liver Center, he has built a reputation for world-class service since 2003. Dr. Mena earned his M.D. from USC and completed his fellowship at USC Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. He also holds an MBA from USC, enhancing his leadership and strategic skills. Recognized with the Hispanic Health Leadership Award (2019) and the Healthcare Visionary Award (2020), Dr. Mena was appointed fellow of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in 2020.
Outside of work, he is active in liver disease outreach, engaging Latino communities and leaders to promote education on liver health. He is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion and advancing treatments for liver diseases.
Sonia Morales, M.D., MPH
University of California, Irvine
Clinical: Advancing Latine Health by Increasing the Latine Clinical Research Pathway
Sonia Morales, M.D., MPH is Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of California, and an attending physician in oncology at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and an assistant professor in Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Additionally, she received a Doctorate of Medicine from the Program In Medical Education (PRIME) at the Charles Drew University School of Medicine and Science/ David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. While in medical school, Dr. Morales received her Master of Public Health degree, with an emphasis on Health Policy and Management from the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. She completed her pediatric residency training and her chief residency at Harbor-UCLA medical center before moving to CHOC for her hematology-oncology fellowship. As a physician-scientist her research focuses on pediatric/ adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivorship, investigating social determinants of health as it relates to pediatric cancer outcomes, increasing diversity in clinical trials. Ongoing projects include evaluating surrogate markers to detect hypersensitivity in asparaginase infusions, evaluation of blood transfusion quantity and its effects on iron overload and mindfulness and its role in improving mental health outcomes among pediatric/AYA cancer survivors. Her future research will focus on the financial implications of a pediatric/AYA cancer diagnosis on a patient’s quality of life and health outcomes. Dr. Morales has been funded by the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Award, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Grant, CHOC’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) grant, CHOC’s Pediatric Subspecialty Faculty (PSF) research grant and the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (CFCCC) Anti-Cancer Challenge Grant.
Pamela Montano, M.D.
Short Session 2 – Clinical: Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership NHMA Scholars
Pamela Montano Arteaga, M.D., is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Medical School and director of the Latino Bicultural Clinic at Gouverneur Health/NYC Health + Hospitals. She completed her Psychiatry Residency at Northwell Hofstra School of Medicine and a Public Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia University. Dr. Montano Arteaga, originally from Colombia, has been an active member of the APA Minority Fellowship Program and contributes to initiatives aimed at improving mental health access for minority populations. She is a champion of structural anti-racism and cultural competency in mental health care.
Carlos O’Bryan-Becerra, M.D., FAAFP
Ventura County Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program
Short Session 1 – Academic: Formando Puentes Lingüísticos: Prioritizing Medical Spanish Proficiency
Carlos O’Bryan-Becerra, M.D., is a family medicine doctor in Ventura, California, and is affiliated with Ventura County Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine and has been in practice for 11 to 20 years.
Dr. O’Bryan-Becerra has expertise in treating hypertension, diabetes, anxiety disorders, and other conditions.
Emma B. Olivera, M.D.
Short Session 2 – Clinical: Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership NHMA Scholars
Emma B. Olivera, M.D., is a proud native of Chicago. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with dual Bachelor degrees in Biological Sciences and Latin American and Latino Studies. Dr. Olivera completed her medical school education at UIC College of Medicine – Rockford campus, followed by pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan (Wayne State University). She is currently a general pediatrician in the suburbs of Chicago and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UIC-COM. Dr. Olivera is committed to advocating for children and mentoring the next generation of leaders in medicine.
Crystal Orozco, RDN, CDCES, CPT
Preconference Workshop 3: Culinary Medicine from Physician to Patient: How to Drive Impact with Nuestros Sabores
Crystal Orozco is a bilingual Latina Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and founder of Vida Nutrition Consulting. She specializes in nutrition communications, brand partnerships, and creating culturally relevant content, including cooking demos, recipes, and health articles. Crystal provides bilingual nutrition care for chronic conditions and works with food brands and healthcare organizations to promote health and wellness within Latinx communities.
Sonia Oyola, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, University of Chicago School of Medicine
Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action
Sonia Oyola, M.D., has been a Family Medicine physician since 2000. After completing her medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1997 and residency at Cook County’s Family Medicine Residency, she further trained at the Arizona Center’s Integrative Medicine fellowship in 2013. Dr. Oyola is currently the Director of Medical Student Education, Director of the Family Medicine and Domestic Violence Electives, and co-director of the Culinary Medicine Programs at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include Integrative Primary Care, Domestic Violence, Stress Disorders, Mind-Body Medicine (including Meditation, Yoga, and Breathwork), and Culinary Medicine. In 2009, Dr. Oyola founded Be Alright, a nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence in Chicago. Her mission is to relieve suffering through mindfulness, kindness, joy, and compassion.
Norma Perez, M.D.
Director of ACEs Program, AltaMed Health Services
Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action
Dr. Norma Perez is a board-certified pediatrician at AltaMed Health Services, one of the nation’s largest federally qualified community health centers. With more than 15 years of experience in pediatrics, Dr. Perez has dedicated her career to working with underserved communities in various primary care settings. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Los Angeles County Medical Association. Dr. Perez earned her medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. She joined AltaMed in 2015 as a pediatrician and transitioned to the Site Medical Director position in 2017. In her current role as Director of the ACEs program, she is addressing toxic stress in the community and creating networks to facilitate access to buffering social services for AltaMed patients.
Citlali Perez
Dual MD/MPP Student, UCLA
Academic/Education: Exploring Factors That Lead to Disproportionate Rates of Medical Student Attrition: A Qualitative Study
Citlali Perez is a dual MD/MPP student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, where she is also part of the PRIME-LA program focused on serving underserved communities. Her research centers on medical education and the structural barriers that contribute to inequities in healthcare.
Citlali’s broader interests include aging policy, immigrant health, and community-engaged research. She draws from her upbringing in the Inland Empire to inform her commitment to advancing health equity through both clinical and policy pathways.
Antonio Picon, M.D., FACS
Surgical and Medical Oncology Management of Gastric Cancer – A Grand Rounds Session – Presented by the Latino Surgical Society
Dr. Antonio I. Picon is a surgical oncologist specializing in the treatment of complex general surgery cases and surgery of benign and malignant tumors, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. He works with a multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing the highest level of care for patients. With expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Dr. Picon has been actively involved in training general surgery residents and fellows throughout his career.
Joyce Richey, Ph.D.
Keck School of Medicine
DEI, Policy and Advocacy Efforts in our Current Political Environment
Joyce Richey, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the USC Keck School of Medicine, where she focuses on the links between diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
A recipient of grants from major institutions, including the NIH and American Diabetes Association, her research has been widely published. She is the immediate past president of the ADA’s Los Angeles Leadership Council, chair of the L.A. African American Diabetes Task Force and serves as a peer grant reviewer for the American Heart Association.
Martha Robles
Barriers to Optimizing HIV Treatment and Prevention and the Role of PrEP in Latino Communities: A Healthcare Providers (HCP) and Community Perspective
Martha Robles has been the face of Christie’s Place for over 12 years, marking an incredible transformation through her life of service. She made her mark on the community as a Peer Navigator, bringing countless women living with HIV to care with compassion and dedication. Now, as the Peer Navigation Coordinator, she mentors and leads women who aim to inspire the community as she has done throughout her career.
Adriana M. Ramirez, M.D.
Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente Fontana
Cultura y Salud: Integrative Approaches to Latina Health — Bridging Medicine, Advocacy, and Action
Adriana M. Ramirez, M.D., is a Vitreo-Retinal surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, CA, practicing with Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) for over 13 years. She received her Bachelor of Science from Pomona College and earned her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. After completing her medical studies, Dr. Ramirez trained at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio for residency. She then pursued fellowship training in Vitreo-Retinal Disease and Surgery at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. Outside of work, Dr. Ramirez enjoys mentoring and volunteering, as well as spending time with her two daughters, ages 12 and 19.
Cesar Rolon
Vive Tu Vida En Forma
Short Session: Revolutionizing Healthcare: Genomic Testing and Personalized Medicine for the Hispanic Community
Cesar Rolon is a multicultural marketing and public relations expert with extensive experience leading communications strategies across public and private sectors. As Associate Clerk and Public Information Officer for the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, he directs media relations, community outreach, and brand strategy to strengthen public engagement and trust. With a background in high-impact campaigns, stakeholder management, and event coordination, Mr. Rolon is recognized for his innovative approach to inclusive storytelling and strategic communications.
Jenny Ruiz, M.D., MSCE
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Track C: Clinical: Advancing Latine Health by Increasing the Latine Clinical Research Pathway
Jenny Ruiz, M.D., MSCE, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a pediatric hematologist oncologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, her research focuses on social determinants of health and communication disparities in pediatric cancer care. Dr. Ruiz has received multiple grants supporting her work and is an active leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts through ASCO, ASH, and other national organizations.
Pedro Sanchez-Lara, M.D., MSCE, FAAP, FACMG
Cedars-Sinai
Clinical: Code to Care: Utilizing Genomics to Uncover and Address Health Disparities in Mestizo Populations
Pedro A. Sanchez-Lara, M.D., MSCE, FAAP, FACMG, is the Director of Pediatric Clinical Genetics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Center for Craniofacial and Molecular Biology at USC. Prior to Cedars-Sinai, he spent a decade at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where he led programs in craniofacial genetics, molecular pathology and cytogenetics.
Krysten Sessoms, M.D.
Preconference Workshop 2: Mastering the Basics of Point of Care Ultrasound and Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
Krysten Sessoms, M.D., is a passionate advocate for addressing health disparities and inequities in marginalized and underserved communities. She holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Dr. Sessoms is currently completing a year of service as a Health Educator with the National Health Corps Chicago. Her interests include promoting quality health education, social justice, advocacy, and community empowerment. She is committed to alleviating health disparities, providing affordable healthcare for all, and empowering individuals to live their healthiest lives.
Ilan Shapiro, M.D.
AltaMed Health Services
Lunch Session: Resilient Voices: Unity and Advocacy in the Latino Experience
Ilan Shapiro, M.D., is the senior vice president and chief health correspondent at AltaMed Health Services, where he leads medical affairs, advocacy, and community engagement. A trusted national voice on Latino health, Dr. Shapiro is known for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic and his leadership in public health communications. He also serves on the boards of L.A. Care and the Gasol Foundation.
Natalia Sucher
Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California
Preconference Workshop 1: Seizure First Aid Presentation/Certification
Natalia Sucher serves as the Executive Director of the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California, where she leads efforts to advocate for and support individuals living with epilepsy. With extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement, and strategic program development, she is dedicated to expanding access to critical services and resources. Her work reflects a strong commitment to empowering the epilepsy community and advancing public awareness.
Karla F. Torres, M.D., FNP, AAHIVS
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
Karla F. Torres, M.D., FNP, AAHIVS, is a physician from Mexico, earning her M.D. from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Mexicali, B.C., Mexico, and a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from United States University in Chula Vista, CA. With over 20 years of experience in HIV care along the U.S./Mexico border, she specializes in serving underserved communities at risk for HIV, substance use, and tuberculosis.
Prior to joining ViiV Healthcare as a Community Medical Liaison in 2018, Dr. Torres worked at UCSD’s Owen Clinic in San Diego, CA, providing HIV primary care, PrEP, and gender-affirming care. She is currently the medical director at Las Memorias, A.C., a nonprofit homeless shelter and sober living site in Tijuana, B.C., where she has volunteered for over 20 years. Karla is passionate about patient education, HIV aging, and PrEP, with a focus on empowering vulnerable populations.
Diana Torres Burgos, M.D., MPH
National Hispanic Medical Association
Recognizing Latino Leaders: Leadership Fellowship Program – Policy Paper Presentations
Diana Torres Burgos, M.D., is a distinguished leader in the health care community, known for her work with the National Hispanic Medical Association. She plays a key role in advancing the Leadership Fellowship Program, where fellows present their policy paper research and recommendations. Dr. Torres Burgos continues to contribute to the growth of Latino leadership within health care and public health.
Vanessa Torres, Ph.D., MPH
Track C: Clinical: Fatty Liver in the Latino Community: From Simple Steatosis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Vanessa Torres, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cedars-Sinai. She earned her Ph.D. in Health Services from the University of Washington. Dr. Torres is a behavioral research scientist whose work centers on community-engaged research and the development of culturally tailored interventions to reduce health disparities in underserved populations. Her research targets health behaviors linked to risk factors for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), using mixed methods to inform and implement responsive, evidence-based strategies that improve health outcomes.
Eva Tovar, M.D., MPH, AEMUS-FPD
Riverside Community Hospital
Preconference Workshop 2: Ultrasound Workshop
Eva Tovar, M.D., was born and raised in Mexico City. She completed medical school at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and did an internal medicine residency before migrating north. Dr. Tovar completed an emergency medicine residency at Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency in Boston, MA and did a Clinical Ultrasound fellowship at the University of Maryland. In 2017, she moved to Southern California where she has the privilege to work on both sides of the border. Dr. Tovar’s interests include point-of-care ultrasound, prehospital care and equitable access to health care.
Winston Wong, M.D., MS, FAAFP
UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity at the Fielding School of Public Health
Barriers to Optimizing HIV Treatment and Prevention and the Role of PrEP in Latino Communities: A Healthcare Providers (HCP) and Community Perspective
Winston Wong, M.D., is a Scholar in Residence at the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity at the Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA. A fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, Dr. Wong’s professional career has encompassed leadership roles at community health centers, federal service, and most recently at Kaiser Permanente, where he served as Medical Director for Community Benefit for over 17 years. His commitment to addressing health equity is anchored by his experience as a bilingual primary care community health center physician for the Asian immigrant community in Oakland Chinatown. At Kaiser Permanente, he was responsible for national philanthropic strategies to support clinical and population management initiatives with the safety net. In 2016, he was appointed to the US DHHS Advisory Committee on Minority Health, and in 2019, was appointed chair. He is also active in philanthropy, serving on various boards, including the California Endowment and Grantmakers in Health.
Eli Walker
Founder, Drunk Yoga® (now The Uplift Center)
Eli Walker is the founder of Drunk Yoga® (now The Uplift Center), an internationally-acclaimed wellness brand that pioneered the wellness entertainment movement, blending self-care with community care. Eli specializes in creating interactive social wellness experiences that break conventional rules, helping facilitators build engaging, playful gatherings that foster radical belonging and connection.
As a keynote speaker, interactive wellness facilitator, and advisor, Eli empowers individuals and organizations to create events that spark laughter, connection, and a sense of belonging in unexpected ways, offering tools to create a more uplifted and connected world.