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Hispanic Heritage Month commemorates the history and culture of the largest racial group in California, and one of the most rapidly growing populations nationwide. However, did you know that the positive impact of Hispanic physicians in academic medicine not only extends beyond the confines of our country, but beyond planet Earth itself?
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Serena Auñón-
Chancellor, MD |
Serena Auñón-Chancellor, MD, is the first female Hispanic physician astronaut in the history of NASA, who in 2018 spent 197 total days on the International Space Station conducting research experiments related to Parkinson’s disease and cancer. After returning from her mission, she took a role as clinical associate professor of medicine at LSU Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Auñón-Chancellor is one of many shining examples of the limitless, transformative potential of medicine and the health sciences.
This month we proudly applaud the accomplishments of our colleagues who bolster the spirit of Hispanic heritage throughout their endeavors in the UCI School of Medicine.
In addition to the growth in raw numbers of the Hispanic community, we are also collectively growing in our understanding of the diverse experiences within this broad racial category. Looking across our university at entities such as the Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, the Latinx Resource Center, and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MEChA), we find just a small sampling of the terminology within this community that reflects its ethnic, national, linguistic and gender diversity. Shifting our language gives us a better understanding of the communities we serve and helps fulfill our mission to: Discover. Teach. Heal.
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| Alfonso Vera, MD |
Alfonso Vera, MD, a third-year resident in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior fully embraces the opportunity to bring a greater understanding of the Hispanic community into medical practice.
“My mission is to bridge the gap between psychiatry and the Hispanic community in order to decrease the stigma of obtaining mental health care,” said Dr. Vera. Read more about Dr. Vera.
Jaime Landman, MD is well-recognized for his extensive clinical expertise, pioneering novel technologies and techniques for minimally invasive kidney diseases, and for global impact in laparoscopic and endoscopic kidney surgery. His accolades include the Endourological Society’s 2023 Ralph Clayman Mentor Award and the 2005 Arthur Smith Award for early career achievement.
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| Jaime Landman, MD |
As chair of the Department of Urology since 2011, Dr. Landman has taken an active role in the High School Outreach Program and Summer Surgery Program, providing opportunities for thousands of high school students to cultivate their interests in the medical field for over a decade. These efforts speak directly to Dr. Landman’s connection to the Orange County Community. Read more about Dr. Landman’s impact.
Jose Vasquez, lab assistant in the Beier Laboratory, has been described by his senior colleagues as a lifelong mentor who has never stopped helping others in all aspects of life. He took an atypical path through higher education in order to support his family after they immigrated from El Salvador, first becoming a pharmacy technician, then obtaining an EMT license. He then transferred to UCI and graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor of Science in neurobiology.
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| Jose Vasquez |
During his time as an undergraduate, Jose served as co-chair of the Minority Association of Pre-Med Students (MAPS) and worked as a tutor. Since becoming a full-time staff member in the lab after graduation, he has been praised for his mentorship of undergraduate students and his research acumen with graduate students and faculty. He is currently applying to medical school for the 2024 application cycle. Read more about Jose's story.
Valeria Rangel, PhD candidate in the Department of Biological Chemistry working in the Pannunzio Laboratory, has also been enthusiastically praised for her work as a champion for health equity and a mentor who lifts as they climb.
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| Valeria Rangel |
Her thesis project focuses on understanding the underlying mechanism of chromosomal translocations between the IgH locus and CRLF2 that gives rise to an aggressive subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which disproportionately affects the Hispanic community.
Her work was commended as an integral part of the Pannunzio Laboratory’s awarding of a MERIT Award from the National Cancer Institute. Furthermore, Valeria is currently mentoring a student through the Cancer Health Equity Research Partnership (CHERP), a partnership between UCI and Cal State University, Fullerton, and is also an exemplary role model for undergraduate student workers in the lab. She attributes her passion for mentorship to her experiences growing up near the U.S.-Mexico border. Read more about Valeria.
These are but a few outstanding examples of community members in our UCI School of Medicine who are constantly inspired to do more for the Hispanic population through medicine and the health sciences. However, we must also emphasize that there is still much more we can all do.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and promote the health and wellness of the Hispanic community throughout our endeavors at the UCI School of Medicine, we encourage you to participate in National Latino Physician Day (NLPD), celebrated each year on October 1. This special recognition is a grassroots campaign supported by the UCI School of Medicine and over 20 medical centers, schools of medicine and professional associations across the country.
In California, the Latinx population makes up approximately 39% with future increases projected to rise to 50% by the year 2050. However, disproportionally, only 6% of physicians identify as Latino or Latina in the United States.
The event’s objective is to promote awareness of the critical shortage of Latino physicians in the United States and promote pathways for underserved students into the medical field. Please join us to show your support for our faculty, residents and medical students.
UCI School of Medicine National Latino Physician Day Celebration
Friday, Sept. 29
Noon to 1 p.m.
Medical Education Building Patio
Light refreshments will be served.
Sincerely,
Ursula Worsham, EdD (She/her)
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity Office, UCI School of Medicine
Xavier Hernandez, PhD (He/him)
Diversity Education Officer, Office of Belonging, Equity, and Empowerment
School of Medicine Equity Advisors:
Munjal Acharya, PhD (He/him) – Associate Professor, Departments of Anatomy & Neurobiology and Radiation Oncology
Uma Rao, MBBS (She/her) – Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior
Gelareh Sadigh, MD (She/her) – Associate Professor In-Residence, Department of Radiological Sciences
Fan-Gang Zeng, PhD (He/him) – Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
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