- College of Medicine Students
The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), which advocates for the rights of Latino’s in health care and works to increase the number of Latinos in medicine, held its national convention in Miami recently and two UCF College of Medicine team members were in attendance.
First-year M.D. student Wendy Carcamo and Wandy Cruz-Velazquez, admissions and registration coordinator, talked to students from across the country about UCF’s new medical school. The college is now represented in the organization’s Southeast Region and Wendy was appointed as membership chair.
The March 15-17 conference drew about 300 health-oriented students and professionals from around the United States and included a research symposium, programs on applying for residencies, and discussions on diversity in academic medicine and how the nation’s healthcare policy impacts the Latino population. Third- and fourth-year medical students held a session on steps they took to succeed on the USMLE Step 1 exam. The association also held workshops for high school students at the University of Miami, Coral Gables Campus.
Putting theory into practice, the third day of the event included a health fair at Palm Springs United Methodist Church. Organized by medical students from Florida International University, the health fair was designed to tackle major diseases prominent in minority and underserved communities and included diabetes and hypertension screenings and prevention education.
The theme of the conference was Tomando Accíon (Taking Action): Ensuring Health Equity for All.
“After attending this conference, we have increased the awareness of the UCF College of Medicine among Latino applicants,” said Wendy. “Our goal is to start a UCF LMSA Chapter to be a part of the Southeast Region.”