WEBINAR SERIES—Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Leading with Diversity: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

APS Members: Watch On-demand

Many Latin American countries celebrate their independence in September, which later became a time to celebrate Hispanic heritage. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually between September 15 and October 15. During this time, people from Latino and Hispanic cultures celebrate their ancestry and customs.

The American Physiological Society (APS) celebrates our Hispanic and Latino/a members for their accomplishments in the physiology field and those that expand science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) opportunities for younger generations. In this webinar, panelists will discuss the leadership skills needed to succeed in and to support the future STEAM workforce.

During this webinar we will discuss:

• the history of the terms related to Hispanic Heritage Month,
• the challenges encountered in the workplace (e.g., socio-economic, linguistic, cultural) and strategies for success,
• the resources available to these unrepresented populations, including scholarship, grants, mentorships and sponsorships, and
• the development of leadership skills from professional opportunities.

Moderator 

Jessica M. Ibarra, PhD, is an assistant professor of physiology and co-director of the Structure and Function and PILLARS problem-based learning courses for first-year medical students at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Ibarra completed her graduate degree in cellular and structural biology and postdoctoral studies at University of Texas Health San Antonio. She serves as the awards committee chair of the APS Teaching of Physiology Section and as secretary of the History of Physiology interest group. Ibarra is and a former member of the of the APS Porter Physiology and Minority Affairs Committee (now the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee) and APS K–12 Minority Outreach Fellow. She is passionate about conducting science outreach in the San Antonio community.

Panelists

Martha Dávila-García, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington D.C., where she is also the director of graduate programs. Dávila-García received her PhD in biology and neuroscience from New York University. She is a health professions education alumna of the Harvard Macy Institute in Boston. Dávila-García serves on the board of directors of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. She is a member of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics’ Executive Committee Neuroscience division and the Mentoring and Career Development Committee, and serves as an executive leader of the World Women in Neuroscience.

Lindsey Ramírez earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a master’s degree in experimental psychology from Augusta University in Georgia. She is a fourth year PhD candidate at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Ramírez has served as a mentor for her biomedical sciences PhD program for the last two years. She is currently a trainee member of the APS Water & Electrolyte Section Steering Committee.

Anna E. Ordóñez, MD, MAS, is director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Office of Clinical Research. She received her medical degree from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the NIMH. Ordóñez completed and a Master of Advanced Studies in clinical research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is board certified in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Rob Rivers, PhD, is a program director in the Office of Minority Health Research Coordination at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). He leads programs focused on increasing the diversity of the biomedical research work force and expanding NIDDK’s research portfolio in health disparities related research. Rivers was an American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science Technology Policy Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. He obtained his bachelor of science and doctoral degrees in chemistry.