Thank you to everyone who attended our global health conference! We hope you enjoyed all of the events of conference day, and we hope you will join us for next year’s global health conference as well as other future MedPACt events!

Check out these articles written about our conference, and a video produced by UCF College of Medicine!


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Registration

Registration is now closed!

Dr. Antonia Novello’s keynote speech will be free and open to the public. Cost of registration includes: simulations, workshops, research symposium, reproductive rights panel, breakfast, and lunch.

Registration Fee:
– UCF-Affiliated Students & Volunteers: Free
– Non-UCF Affiliated Attendees/Public: $25.00

Schedule

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Breakfast & Registration (Atrium)
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Introductions & Keynote Speaker (Lewis Auditorium)
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Reproductive Rights Panel (COM 104)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch & Research Poster Judging (4th Floor, East Wing)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Workshops & Simulations Block 1 (2nd Floor SGLs, CSSC)
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM: Break
2:10 PM – 3:10 PM: Workshops & Simulations Block 2 (2nd Floor SGLs, CSSC)
3:10 PM – 3:20 PM: Break
3:20 PM – 4:20 PM: Workshops & Simulations Block 3 (2nd Floor SGLs, CSSC)
4:20 PM – 4:30 PM: Break
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Research Awards & Closing (Lewis Auditorium)

AntoniaNovello-headshot-web

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Antonia Novello is a Puerto Rican physician, public health leader, and global health expert. She was appointed the fourteenth Surgeon General of the United States and is the first woman and Hispanic to serve as Surgeon General. Over the years, she has also served as vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Commissioner of Health for the State of New York, and Special Representative for UNICEF.

During her term as Surgeon General, Dr. Novello actively sought to bring national attention to health problems surrounding women and children. She actively campaigned against the alcohol and tobacco industry for their inappropriate advertising schemes aimed at children and women. Due to her efforts, she brought about significant reform such as the 1998 federal law prohibiting tobacco companies from targeting children. She also played a pivotal role in developing a national health initiative which shed light upon the health problems of the Latino population and other minority groups.

In the global sphere, Dr. Novello served as Special Representative for UNICEF. With this position, she spearheaded a number of international advocacy efforts, including the elimination of iodine deficiency in Asia and prevention of substance abuse in youths. Recently, she has been involved with a governmental effort in the Dominican Republic against domestic violence, which has caused thousands of deaths in the past few years.

Currently, Dr. Novello serves as the Vice President for Women’s and Children’s Health and Policy Affairs at Disney Children’s Hospital in Orlando, specializing in the preventative medicine family health.

International Reproductive Health Panel

Join us for an engaging panel discussion about family planning and birthing management around the world, featuring the following global health experts:

  • Joanna Mishtal, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida Department of Anthropology, is a medical anthropologist who will speak about her research in Warsaw, Poland investigating the on-going political struggle to establish in vitro fertilization (IVF) regulation and subsidy policies.
  • Lorna Owens, RN, JD, founder and CEO of the Footprints Foundation, will discuss the prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage internationally and how her organization helps train health care providers in developing countries to manage this life-threatening condition.
  • Deanna Gordon, founder of the Hawa Project, is a midwife who has served women throughout Utah, Kansas, Dominican Republic, and Liberia who will speak about her experiences abroad serving as a midwife and teaching midwifery to others.
  • Shannon Carter, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida Department of Sociology, will speak about the cultural and global implications of peer milk sharing.

Workshops & Simulations

The afternoon will include interactive and engaging workshops and simulations where you’ll get the chance to learn about resuscitating infants in the golden minute after birth with NeoNatalie dolls, experience managing a patient undergoing post-partum hemorrhage, and enact first-hand how organizations like Project Baby Benefit build maternity hospitals abroad!

Learn more about our Workshops & Simulations!

Research Symposium & Poster Competition

All conference attendees are invited to submit an abstract on any original global health research and/or projects for our annual poster competition. Winners will be announced at the closure of the conference, and will be awarded the following prizes: 1st place – $200, 2nd place – $100, and 3rd place – $50.

At this time, those who wish to submit an abstract may do so on our Abstract Submission Form. Once you submit your abstract (300 words or less), our research team will contact you with more information. Deadline for abstract submission is January 19, 2015. If you have any questions regarding research, please email John Kim and johnkim@knights.ucf.edu.

Local Sponsors

We are excited and honored to be featuring many local Orlando restaurants for meals and snacks throughout the day, including halal, vegetarian, and vegan options!

publix
Ahmed
Dunkin Donuts
tijuana
Mediterranean Blue

Housing Information

UCF COM Homestay Program: Students may choose to stay with a UCF medical student at no cost! Please indicate if you would like to participate in this program on the registration form.

Alternatively, feel free to book your stay at one of the many nearby Orlando hotels:

  • Courtyard Orlando Airport: 7155 North Frontage Road, Orlando, Florida 32812. Rates start at $104/night (plus tax & fees). Book online or call hotel directly (407-240-7200).
  • Holiday Inn Orlando International Airport: 5750 T G Lee Blvd., Orlando, FL 32822. Rates start at $129/night (plus tax & fees). Book online or call hotel directly (1-866-253-2182). This rate is only good until January 16th.

Attire

Attire for the conference will be business casual.

Contact Information

Follow our event at our Facebook event page!

Got questions? Feel free to contact our conference board: