NHMA Conference History


The National Hispanic Medical Association
First Annual Conference March 22-23, 1997

"Hispanic Physicians: Transforming U.S. Health Care"

 
First National NHMA Conference Overview
"Hispanic Physicians: Transforming U.S. Health Care"
March 21-23, 1997, Washington DC

NHMA convened its first national conference in collaboration with  the National Hispanic Medical Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Shering/Oncology Biotech, Kaiser Permanente -California,  and 30 other partners. Approximately 250 physicians, policy makers, industry representatives, and medical students participated in the event to discuss current issues facing Hispanic physicians across the nation.  Workshops highlighted expert Hispanic physicians (Some of our Advisory Committee members) from across the nation on various topics - development of an IPA, medical education careers, domestic violence, development of research grants, Hispanic patients and clinical issues, cultural competence curriculum, the conversions of non-profit hospitals in Hispanic communities, Medicaid managed care...and more... Special thanks to Dr. Ciriaco Gonzales, Dr. Evelyn Rodriguez, and Dina Robinson for all their work and special thanks to the Advisory Committee, Linda, Julia, Aileen, John, and Gabriel and UT CME staff for their planning assistance.

Overwhelming feedback: NHMA off to a great start with this conference - an outstanding success!

Key Messages:Opening Plenary
Leadership key to the success of Hispanic physicians and NHMA
Important Role of the Physician as a healer for our patients

Policy and Trends discussed as important opportunities for NHMA:
Federal Government need for innovation as it downsizes
Managed Care and minority communities
Immigration reform and decreased health benefits to Latinos
International Medical Graduates face disastrous policy and will decrease access for Latinos
Health System Reform successes: Puerto Rico

The White House Message of Chris Jennings -
President Clinton's Child health initiatives will increase access and will need NHMA participation in the design and planning

Awards Dinner
Messages from the Founders of the National Chicano Health Organization and Boricua Health Organization (Margie Beltran, Bob Montoya,MD, Rosa Martinez, David Hayes Bautista, Emilio Carrillo, MD, Jaime Rivero, MD) : "vision, solidarity got us here --- reach out to those younger students and continue to build the NHMA for the future"

Presentation and congratulations to NHMA by the President, National Medical Association,  Randall Morgan, M.D.

Awards Presented for Leadership
Dr. Donna Shalala - and for HHS Hispanic Action Agenda
Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford  - and for HHS Hispanic Action Agenda
Congressman Stokes
Congressman Richardson
Congressman Roybal
Dr. Clay Simpson
Dr. Ciro Sumaya
 

CLOSING SESSION: Where Do We Go from Here?

Work with DHHS and the Hispanic Action Agenda
1. U.S. Mexico Binational Commission
2. Office of Minority Health programs
3. Nominate NHMA members from Resume Bank project to HHS committees

Medical Education
1. Work with medical students -mentoring
2. Cultural Competence curriculum
3. Faculty Development activity

Research
1. NHMA practices - multi-site
2. Managed Care

Policy Education/Coalition participation
1. Affirmative action
2. Medical Professions development

Organizational development
1. Membership Campaign
2. Administrative Infrastructure development
3. Directory of participants
4. Advisory Committee - working committees
5. Next year's conference: HCOE Report, Congressional invitations, Medical School Alumni Receptions, Corporate Speakers

Please join NHMA at next year's national Hispanic medical issues conference in Washington DC on March 7-8, 1998.
 

Well, finally the pictures from the conference.
 
 
Cris Jennings  Senior Advisor to the President       Panel left to right
on Health Speaks to the NHMA                           Rene Rodriguez, M.D. President ICPS
                                                                            Roberto Rosso-Quevedo, M.D. Health Advisor,  Governor of Puerto Rico
                                                                            Lourdes Rivera J.D., National Health Law Program
                                                                            Eric Munoz, M.D. New Jersey
                                                                            Jo Ivey Buford U.S. D.H.H.S
                                                                            Elena Rios, M.D., M.P.H. NHMA President NHMA

 
Robert Montoya, M.D.     Mark Diaz M.D.          Jo Ivey Buford, M.D.  Elena Rios, M.D.   Luis Estevez M.D. NHMA V.P.
 

 
Robert Beltran M.D. (at mic)                                Greg Talavera, M.D. San Diego
                                                                            Carlos Caban NIH
                                                                             Elva Ruiz, NCI
                                                                             Ken Dominguez, M.D., CDC
 

 
panel left to right                                                   NHMA Advisory Committee
Carlos Silva M.D., AMA
Ileana Herrell, HRSA
Paul Orsinger, Hispanic Radio Network
Joe Perez
 

  .
Ambassador Bill Richardson's representative        Award presentation by Luis Estevez NHMA to
receives award.                                                    Emilio Carrillo, M.D. Boricua Health Organization Founder
 

 
 
Jo Perez      Elena Rios M.D.                                At microphone (l-r) Esteban Bouchard, M.D. Harvard
                                                                                                           Susana Morales, M.D. Columbia
                                                                                                           George Friedman-Jimenez, M.D. New York
 

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Last Updated September 13, 1997 by Mark A. Diaz, M.D.