Hispanic care conference Program booklet.2025 by jyw059

Welcome!

Dear Attendee,

Welcome to the 3rd Annual NHMA/SILMAP Meeting: Update on Cancer Care in Latino, Hispanic, and Latinx Communities!

We are truly thrilled to have you here with us today for this special one-day event dedicated to advancing cancer care and strengthening collaboration among healthcare professionals. Throughout the day, we’ll explore the latest innovations, share best practices, and discuss some of the most pressing challenges affecting cancer care in our communities.

I encourage each of you to take full advantage of this opportunity—ask questions, engage with our incredible speakers, and connect with colleagues who share your passion and commitment. Your participation and insights are what make gatherings like this so impactful.

Thank you for being here and for all the work you do to improve health outcomes in Latino, Hispanic, and Latinx communities.

Let’s make today an inspiring, memorable, and transformative experience for everyone!

Warm Regards,

Conference Planning Committee

Thank you!

We extend our sincere appreciation for your generous support. Your unwavering commitment to our mission plays a vital role in advancing our goals and fostering meaningful progress in the communities we serve. Your partnership and trust inspire us to continue this important work with dedication and purpose. Together, we are making a lasting impact and shaping a healthier, more equitable future.

Thank you for believing in our mission!

Dr. and Mrs. Victor Diaz Jr.

CME Opportunity

If you are interested in CME, please register here:

Speakers and Moderators

Brian Touhy, PhD

Dr. Touhy is Co-Director of Education and an Assistant Professor of Bioethics at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and an Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Sociology at Temple University. His research explores the intersection of immigration, health, incarceration, and medical education. His work has been published in Social Science & Medicine, Social Forces, The American Journal of Bioethics, The British Medical Journal, Medical Education, and City & Community. His current book project, Mexican Chicago: Between Belonging and Exclusion, draws on five years of ethnographic fieldwork with a socially similar group of children of immigrants—some undocumented, some citizen-born—to examine how legal status shapes belonging, access, and identity in contemporary urban life.

D. Daphne Owen, MD

Director of Medical Education, Puentes de Salud

Since 2009, Dr. Owen has contributed in roles ranging from receptionist and after-school program leader to physician. Now, as our Director of Medical Education and Development, she is shaping the future of healthcare by overseeing student volunteers and coordinating clinical professionals at the Puentes clinic.

Her academic journey spans UC Berkeley, Bryn Mawr College, and the Perelman School of Medicine, leading to her current role as Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Owen’s efforts ensure enriching learning experiences for student volunteers and help expand our network of volunteer health professionals.

Jose Ortiz

Jose Ortiz is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Puentes de Salud, where he works on projects dedicated to improving the overall well-being for the Hispanic immigrant community of Philadelphia. Most notably, Mr. Ortiz is currently involved in the clinic's mammogram screening initiative, and efforts to inform staff and volunteers about immigrants' rights. In the last year, he was selected to be in the first cohort of student volunteers at Puentes to complete the clinic's Certificate program, through which he has volunteered in all of the clinic volunteer roles and built meaningful relationships with the Puentes staff and patient community. In addition to his role as the Community Engagement coordinator, he also continues to volunteer at the clinic regularly as a Medical Spanish Interpreter and by conducting patient intake/vitals.

Melissa Hutchison, BA, OPN-CG

Oncology Patient Navigator Temple University

Hospital

Melissa Hutchison has worked in oncology patient navigation for 11 years in nonprofit organizations including the American Cancer Society and her current role at Temple University Hospital. She specializes in connecting cancer patients with resources and support to help address barriers to care.

She holds a B.A in Sociology- concentration social work and is a certified patient navigator through the AONN+.

Carlos Gustavo Obrador

• Head Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia

• Born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Mr. Carlos Obrador has a degree in International Relations, graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. He has pursued several seminars in the North American region; International Law; Foreign Policy of Mexico; Consular Protection; Consular Services and Cultural issues.

• Mr. Carlos Obrador is a career member of the Mexican Foreign Service since 1993. He was Head of the Department of Consular Protection of Mexicans in Canada until 1997, Head of the Mexican Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program at the Consulate General of Mexico in Toronto, Head of the Office of Trade Promotion and Tourism at the Embassy of Mexico in Canada.

• At the Consulate of Mexico in Eagle Pass he served as Deputy Consul (2009-2011), Deputy Consul and Cultural Attaché at the Consulate General of Mexico in Boston (2012-2014), Deputy Director General for Latin America and the Caribbean in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (August 2014 – June 2016). He served as the Head Consul of Mexico in Del Rio, Texas, from June 2016 to October 2019.

• As of November 1, 2019, Mr. Obrador serves as the Head Consul of Mexico in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ana Maria Lopez, MD, MPH

Dr. Lopez serves as Professor of Medical Oncology and Integrative Oncology and Nutritional Sciences at Sidney Kimmel Medical College and Director of Medical Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Lopez is a health services researcher with a focus on health care access via technology and cultural bridges with a focus on cancer prevention and early detection. Dr. Lopez has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and multiple abstracts and book chapters. She has dedicated her career to addressing health inequities through research, community partnership, and active support of the next generation. Her clinical focus is women’s cancers and integrative oncology. She has inaugurated innovations Integrative Oncology with an academic inpatient service and group visits. Dr. Lopez formerly served as member of the Board of the National Hispanic Medical Association.

Ricardo Morgenstern, MD

Dr. Ricardo Morgenstern serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the University of Pennsylvania. He has expertise in multiple areas of GI medicine including screening and prevention. He is a respected educator and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Morgnestern is bilingual in Spanish.

Cherie Erkmen, MD

Dr. Erkmen serves as Professor, Thoracic Medicine and Surgery and Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program and Lung Cancer Screening Program, Temple University Hospital,

Rebeca Kelly, MD

Dr. Rebeca Kelly, MD specializes in Gynecologic Oncology and is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Kelly graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, PhD, MPH

Dr. Charnita Zeigler-Johnson is a cancer epidemiologist, Associate Professor of Cancer Prevention and Control and Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia, PA). Her research focuses on defining cancer risk factors and better understanding cancer disparities in the U.S. and international settings. Currently, she is Principal Investigator of two multi-institutional, mixed-methods studies focused on examining the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and prostate cancer outcomes. She is a member of the leadership team for the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3) and co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition.

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David Whellan, MD, MHS

As Associate Provost for Clinical Research and Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Dr. David Whellan focuses on designing clinical research infrastructure, policies and practices required to perform cutting-edge, highly effective and compliant clinical research. His work resulted in the creation of the Jefferson Clinical Research Institute (JCRI) as the platform for implementing services within Jefferson to support faculty in their pursuit of discovering better ways to improve the care of their patients, to engage patients in the clinical research process, and to assist sponsors with the development of their treatments. Dr. Whellan has led Jefferson to leverage the infrastructure and support of the JCRI to initiate the Partners in Innovation Education, and Research (PIER) Consortium, a novel network of partnering healthcare organizations to conduct cutting-edge clinical research that advances our understanding of disease and treatment, improves the health of our patients and meets the needs of our providers, investigators, and sponsors.

Aitziber Buqué Martinez, PhD

Dr. Aitziber Buqué Martinez is an Assistant Professor in the Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Research Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Prior to joining Fox Chase, she was an instructor of cell biology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Dr. Aitziber Buqué Martinez earned her doctoral degree in biomedicine at the Biocruces Research Institute –University of the Basque Country. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Center in Paris, where she studied in the Apoptosis, Cancer, and Immunity Laboratory. She then went on to become a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Weill Cornell Medical College, before becoming an instructor of cell biology there.

Dr. Aitziber Buqué Martinez has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has served as co-editor of Methods in Cell Biology. Her research interests include oncogenesis of hormone receptor positive breast cancer, including the study of the immune system during oncogenesis under different metabolic disorders, characterization of tumor metabolism under different metabolic conditions, and development of new treatment strategies.

Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, MPH

• Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, MPH, is Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative at Drexel University. From 2014 to 2023 she was Dean of the Dornsife School of Public Health. Previously she was Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Director of the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health at the University of Michigan. Diez Roux is internationally known for her research on the social determinants of health, neighborhood health effects and urban health. She has led large research and training programs including SALURBAL (Salud Urbana en América Latina/Urban Health in Latin America) and SALURBAL-Climate. She is currently PI of the NIH-funded Drexel Center on Extreme Weather Events and Urban Health (CCUH) was MPI of the NIH-funded Drexel FIRST initiative. Dr. Diez Roux has served on numerous editorial boards, review panels and advisory committees including the EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) (as Chair), the NCHS Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC), and CDC’s Community Preventive Services Taskforce. She is currently Co-Chair of the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. She has received the Wade Hampton Frost Award from the American Public Health Association, the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Epidemiology from the American College of Epidemiology, and the Rothman Career Award from the Society for Epidemiologic Research. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 2009. Dr. Diez Roux has been an active mentor of doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty from diverse backgrounds.

Cyndie Navarro-Davila, PhD, ACS-CAN

Dr. Cyndie Navarro-Davila is currently working as the Director of State & Local Campaigns - Health Equity for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) since 2023. Prior to this, they worked at the American Cancer Society, where they held positions such as Senior Consultant in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Associate Director in Development, Senior Manager in Community Development, and Community Development Manager. Cyndie also worked as a Community Engagement Manager & Advocacy Lead at the American Lung Association.

Cyndie Navarro-Davila recently completed a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership and Human Resources Development from Regent University. Cyndie also holds a certificate in Social Model Theory and Substance Abuse Counseling from the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources in 2007. Cyndie has also obtained several certifications focused on inclusive leadership and cultural competence.

David Heayn-Menendez

• David Heayn-Menendez is the Chief Strategy and Organizing Officer at The New Pennsylvania Project. With almost 20 years of experience in nonprofit and education organizations, David has a proven track record of planning and leading highly effective teams in grassroots communitybased efforts to support low-income and historically underinvested communities in the greater Philadelphia area and beyond.

• Beyond his professional endeavors, David is deeply engaged in community organizing and electoral campaigns. He currently serves as Council President in the Borough of Lewisburg, where he has been a municipal elected official for the past six years. David holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Villanova University and is completing his PhD dissertation in History at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has taught everywhere from kindergarten to university classrooms and beyond on history, religion, art, and politics. His academic background enriches his work, underscoring his commitment to lifelong learning and scholarship.

"I do this work because I am deeply committed to social and racial justice and equity, particularly in ensuring that historically underrepresented communities have a voice in our democracy. At NPP, I am driven by the opportunity to expand the electorate and empower communities to advocate for their needs and interests."

Advocacy 101 presentation: https://drexel.edu/dornsife/news/events/details/?eid=45065&iid=117708

Program Planning Committee

Victor Diaz, MD

•Dr. Diaz is an Assistant Professor in the Dept of Family and Community Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his Family Practice residency at Chestnut Hill Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Faculty Development at Jefferson Medical College, both in Philadelphia. His past roles have included being Assistant Medical Director and head of Quality Assurance for Jefferson Family Medicine Associates.

•He is a Leadership Fellow with the National Hispanic Medical Association and a Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Leader at Thomas Jefferson University.

•He has authored articles and book chapters on diverse topics such as oral health care in HIV disease, male sexual dysfunction, diseases of the eye, cultural competency, minority health and health disparities among Latinos.

•He was a physician leader for his department in the Southeast Pennsylvania Learning Collaborative which developed statewide initiatives for the improved management of chronic disease in the Commonwealth focusing especially on selfmanagement support for diabetic patients.

•Dr Diaz has received several teaching awards at SKMC for Excellence in Education and Faculty Mentoring. He has also been regularly recognized as a Philadelphia Magazine “Top Doc” in Family Medicine and has a part-time role as a team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.

Ana Gamero, PhD

Dr. Ana Gamero directs a research lab focused on the study of cancer and inflammatory diseases. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, she is committed to higher learning, teaching, mentoring and service at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Dr. Gamero holds secondary appointments within the Department of Cancer and Cell Biology and the Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine. Previously, she served as Program Director of STEP-UP (Short-Term Education Program for Undergraduate and Predoctoral students) and is currently a Faculty Scholar in the Office of Health, Equity Diversity, and Inclusion and Co-Faculty Advisor for the Latino Medical Student Association. She serves on the MD/PhD advisory, Graduate Program Admissions, Academic Standards and Promotion, and Tenure Committees. Dr. Gamero, originally from Peru, received her B.S. in Biological Sciences and Ph.D in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of South Florida. She conducted postdoctoral studies in Molecular Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic Dr. Gamero established her first independent research lab at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where she discovered a passion for mentoring, as a sponsor for several NCIintramural undergraduate research programs, including those supporting underserved and underrepresented minority students. Dr. Gamero has been a faculty at Temple University since 2008 and has authored 50+ publications in her field.

Natalia Ortiz, MD

Dr. Natalia Ortiz is a double board-certified Professor of Clinical Psychiatry with over 20 years of experience treating medically complex patients. She leads a premier medical-psychiatric service and created the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Educational and Clinical Track, advancing integrated care and education. A published author and health equity advocate, she served as the first Hispanic woman President of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, where she championed diversity, mentorship, and health disparity initiatives. As a leader in the Society of Ibero-Latin American Medical Professionals, Dr. Ortiz promotes international collaboration and culturally responsive care to improve global health outcomes.

Curtis Miyamoto, MD

Dr. Curtis Miyamoto has been the Chairperson of Radiation Oncology, Temple University, School of Medicine for over 14 years, former interim-chief of Medical Oncology (2007-2008), interim Chair of Radiology (June 2014-September 2015), past President of Philadelphia Medical Society (June 2013-June 2014) and has recently been named Associate Director for Clinical Services, Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple University Hospital (October 2015). Dr. Miyamoto is board certified in Radiation Oncology, a full professor and a practicing radiation oncologist since 1991. He serves on multiple advisory boards including the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and ELEKTA North American Radiation Oncology Advisory Board. In 2013, he won both the Spirit of the Promise award from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Philadelphia, and a volunteer award from the American Cancer Society. Dr. Miyamoto has been a “Philadelphia region Best Doctor” for multiple years and the Chair of the Temple University Hospital Cancer committee. He has served as the Medical Director for the Susan G. Komen Asian Women Health Awareness program event for multiple years and am extremely active in the American Cancer Society. He has lectured around the world in countries including China, Japan, Spain, Italy, and throughout South America. Dr. Miyamoto speaks Spanish fluently and is comfortable giving lectures in Spanish

John Kim, MSII

John Kim is a 2nd Year Medical Student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. Hailing from the Bronx, NY, much of John's work and interests align with disparities, especially involving the Latin American community. He has been steadfast in his commitment to equity and plans to match into primary care to return to underserved communities, such as the Bronx.

Clara Granda-Cameron, DrNP, MSN

Dr. Clara Granda-Cameron is an Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing. She serves as co-lead for the Jefferson Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education's Interprofessional Palliative Care program. Dr. Granda-Cameron’s experience in cancer care and palliative care is extensive; she has worked for over 30 years in the United States and Colombia as an Oncology Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Granda-Cameron’s interest in palliative care and cancer care focused on symptom management of patients with cancer cachexia. She implemented the Cancer Appetite and Rehabilitation Clinic at the Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Granda-Cameron career transitioned from clinical practice to academia since 2016 when she joined JCN as full-time faculty educating undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Dr. Granda-Cameron is an early investigator, recently awarded a NIH Diversity Supplement grant to reduce cancer care disparities. Her field of research focuses on improving cancer care in minority populations. Her work includes numerous peer-reviewed publications, public speaking at the national and international level, and an international consultant role in the Latin American Association of Palliative Care.

Nora Esteban-Cruciani, MD

Dr. Esteban-Cruciani is a board-certified pediatrician at Jefferson-Einstein. She trained in pediatrics at Montefiore Medical Center. Her background includes a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a master’s degree in clinical research methodology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Esteban joined the Department of Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1993. She served as Director of the Pediatric Fellows Science Course from 1998 to 2003 and as co-Director starting in 2007. Dr. Esteban-Cruciani was appointed Assistant Director of Pediatric Hospital Medicine in 2007.

Dr. Esteban-Cruciani has been listed as a “Top Doctor" for many consecutive years as well as a Top Doctor by U.S. News & World Report. She has received many awards for clinical and educational excellence, among them the 2010 MVP Award from The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, the William Obrinsky Award for Excellence in Student Teaching, and the National Hispanic Medical Association Fellowship Award. She was inducted into the Leo M. Davidoff Society in 2009.

Dr. Esteban-Cruciani currently serves as a co-Editor for the Journal of the National Hispanic Medical Association.

Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP

Dr. Rose DiMarco, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SKCCC) at Jefferson Health in Center City Philadelphia. Dr. DiMarco is the SKCCC Pharmacy Quality Lead and has participated in the HOPA-ASCO Quality Training Program. Her specialties include breast cancer and side effect management, and she is passionate about patient safety, quality improvement, and health equity. Dr. DiMarco is the past chair of the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and serves on the Professional Development and Leadership Committee. Dr. DiMarco is also the co-chair of the YMCA Columbia North’s Advisory Board.

Christine James, PhD, LSW

• Dr. James leads the Community Health Worker Academy and strategic partnership efforts. She has deep experience in Medicaid healthcare services for behavioral health and developmental disabilities in public and private sectors. Her 25 years of leadership roles in non-profit community-based organizations and state government encompasses training, community relations, quality improvement, data systems, human resources, system/policy reform, service coordination and service access for people with disabilities. Dr. James has extensive experience in public speaking, teaching, curriculum development and program evaluation. Her commitment to addressing health disparities and success in grant writing and leading transformational change in programs will be key assets for the future of the Collaborative.

• Dr. James is a licensed social worker and earned her PhD and Masters in Social Work and an undergraduate degree, with highest honors, in Psychology from Rutgers University. She educates students at Rutgers School of Social Work on disability, chronic illness and diversity.

Barbara Martinez Diaz

• Barbara is an educator and LMSA liaison who hails from the Dominican Republic and has been involved with healthcare for most of her life. Her passion is education, and she’s held different positions including preschool to elementary-middle school teacher, private Spanish tutor, assistant scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, community youth group leader, and a volunteer with the Philadelphia Dept of Parks and Recreation.

• She’s also been a key member of the Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Jefferson’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and is actively involved with the STEM program at Esperanza College of Eastern University in Philadelphia.

• Growing up in the Dominican Republic has afforded her a unique perspective on the institution of healthcare and culture. She strongly believes that by sharing, connecting, and celebrating our experiences, we can accomplish so much more and create rich partnerships between culture, health, and community.

Nancy Porroa

My name is Nancy Porroa, I’m a Community Health Worker in the Jefferson Collaborative for Health Equity. My passion has been to help the Community in many programs from guiding the uninsured to gain access to basic health care needs to educating the community about diabetes, hypertension, chronic disease, asthma and Tobacco. For 17 years in Peru, I worked as a Registered Nurse in the emergency department, oncology, surgery room, and community. In my free time, I like to travel to Peru and visit my mother, and spend time with my children and my grandchild. I am also a volunteer in an organization that helps people with cancer.