Miller School Students Co-Chair National Latino Medical Student Association Conference

Students, faculty and staff from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine were leaders and participants in the 13th National Conference of the Latino Medical Student Association, held at the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus April 13-15.

From left, Miller School student Roxana Navarro, Nanette Vega, and student Victoria Fernandez.

Second-year Miller School students Roxana Navarro and Victoria Fernandez served as national co-chairs for the conference, which brought together more than 460 high school students, undergraduates, medical students, physicians, educators and exhibitors. The conference provided a high school, premedical, and medical student track with more than 40 presentations to choose from.

The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) is dedicated to outreach and advocacy for underserved communities in medicine, planning and participating in community service events and patient education. “Professional development of our members is paramount to our mission,” LMSA president Eric R. Molina wrote in his welcome message. “We promote volunteerism, provide leadership opportunities, and hold professional development workshops so that our members learn to be better advocates and leaders for our communities and all the diverse communities across our country.”

David A. Acosta, M.D., chief diversity and inclusion officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges, was a keynote speaker. Nanette Vega, M.A., executive director of the Miller School Office of Diversity and Inclusion, led a session for the high school students on navigating college as a premedical student.

“This year’s LMSA conference was a celebration of diversity with the focus on advancing Latino health and physicians,” Vega said. “It was also a great opportunity to develop a network of professional colleagues from around the country.”

The conference included community service to benefit sickle cell anemia research and an awards gala. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion received special recognition for assisting with onsite registration.

Tags: Latino Medical Student Association, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine