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OUTCOMES REPORT 2024

Overview

This newly integrated event combined the legacy of the MOLA Latino Health Symposium and the NAMS Medical Spanish Summit into a unified, two-day conference for the first time. The expanded format allowed for a broader range of educational sessions, deeper engagement, and increased networking opportunities for attendees from across the country.

This milestone event was made possible through the support of our Institutional Partner, the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the University of Illinois Chicago, under the leadership of Dr. Mónica Vela.

Download the MOLA Annual Report PDF version here

The Medical Organization for Latino Advancement (MOLA) was founded to create programs and solutions to increase representation and reduce the inequities that Latinx students and professionals experience in medicine and across healthcare fields. Ultimately, MOLA aims to improve the health and well-being of the Hispanic/Latinx community and all.

Objectives

Health Disparities

Identify health disparities prevalent in the LHS+ and Spanish-speaking communities, focusing on access to care, quality of care, and health outcomes.

Communicative and Cultural Competence

Describe the impact of language concordant care, clinician language proficiency development and assessment, and cultural competency and humility in healthcare.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

Propose strategies in healthcare and education that embrace and uplift values of multilingualism and cultural diversity as critical assets that enhance health and educational equity for historically marginalized groups and for all.

Collaboration and Networking

Identify opportunities for healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, and community leaders to collaborate, share best practices, and build networks aimed at advancing the health and well-being of the LHS+ population.

Innovating the Abstract Submission Process

In 2024, the conference planning committee implemented a new abstract and session proposal submission process, enhancing accessibility and inclusion. For the first time, individuals were invited to submit either a research abstract (for poster or oral presentations) or a full session proposal. A fully Spanish-translated application was also launched, resulting in four submissions entirely in Spanish, all reviewed by native Spanish-speaking evaluators to ensure linguistic and cultural accuracy.

The submission process yielded strong engagement, with a total of:

  • 99 submissions including 4 session proposals. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our volunteer abstract judges
  • 44 poster presentations
  • 34 oral presentations and all
  • 4 proposed sessions were selected for inclusion in the conference program.

441 Total Registrants

Breakdown of Professionals (Total: 141)

  • Clinicians (including Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners,
  • Physician Assistants, Nurses and Social Workers): 35
  • Medical Trainees – Residents & Fellows: 12
  • Educators: 51
  • Health Administrators and Public Health Professionals: 15
  • Researchers: 28
  • Did not specify: 36

Breakdown of Students (Total: 300)

  • Doctorate candidates: 10
  • Masters candidates: 13
  • Medical students: 138
  • Post Graduate: 7
  • Pre-Health: 9
  • Undergraduate: 99
  • Did not specify: 24

MOLA MEMBERSHIP COMPOSITION AND GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE

MOLA’s membership base practices primarily in the Midwest (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, and Ohio) and its diaspora reaches Puerto Rico, Florida, New York, Texas, California, and New England states.

MOLA members’ health fields include Behavioral Health, Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Public Health experts, and Healthcare Management professionals.

MOLA MENTORSHIP EDUCATION

As part of the education series, MOLA Academic Pathways, a curriculum was implemented to build skills and provide resources to our mentees. The 18 sessions covered a diverse range of topics including career exploration, application support, cultural competency, and wellness, drawing participants across multiple sessions. Popular sessions included “Exploring the Physician Assistant Profession,” “Culturally Competent Care,” and “Mobile Migrant Health Team,” reflecting strong interest in both clinical pathways and equity-focused topics.

Overall, participants reported that the objectives were clearly stated and accomplished, and all participants agreed that the session added value to their career objectives.

The Mentorship program engages expert speakers and presenters in the fields supporting the advancement of our mentees.

MOLA MENTORSHIP CLASS OF 2024-25 OUTCOME

As part of the program, a curriculum was implemented to build skills and provide resources to our mentees. The 12 sessions covered topics on: Transgender Health, Student Loans, My History-Dr. Rosalinda Alvarado, How to make a professional CV, ERAS Blueprint: Empowering Latinx for Match Success, Environmental Racism and the basics of Family Law.

Overall, participants reported that the objectives were clearly stated and accomplished, and all participants agreed that the session added value to their career objectives.

The Mentorship program engages expert speakers and presenters in the fields supporting the advancement of our mentees.

All participants agreed that the speaker had a good knowledge of the topic. The lectures focus on practicing what is explained during the lecture and most of the participants agreed that this is the part they value the most.

MENTEE OUTCOMES

Mentee Demographics

Ethnic Identity

Mentees represent a rich diversity, including identities such as Mestizo, Latino, and Black or African American. The majority self-identify with LHS+ heritage, aligning with MOLA’s mission.

Languages Spoken

Most mentees are bilingual, with fluency in Spanish and English. Some also report proficiency in additional languages like Arabic and Portuguese, highlighting a multicultural and multilingual community.

Educational Background

  • A significant number are International Medical Graduates (IMGs), primarily from Latin America.
  • Others are college students and pre-medical applicants affiliated
    with institutions like the University of Illinois Chicago.
Interests and Career Goals

Specialties of Interest

A wide range of specialties were mentioned, including Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Pediatrics.

Topical Interests

Recurring themes include advocacy for immigrant and LHS+ populations, mental health & wellness, research, and health equity.

Geographic Location

In addition to US-based locations, an increasing number of mentees are from international locations (e.g., Ecuador, México), reflecting MOLA’s growing international reach while maintaining a strong local impact.

Overall Satisfaction and Growth

From the post-survey data, mentees express:

  • Strong agreement with statements about improved mental health awareness, work-life balance, and supportive mentorship.
  • Many reported satisfaction with the program structure and offered feedback suggesting a desire for more in-person connection and increased scheduling with mentors and experts.
Learning and Personal Goals

Mentees set goals such as

  • Publishing research, applying to residency, or getting USMLE Steps completed.
  • Gaining observerships, building networks, and enhancing their clinical readiness.

Their motivations for joining MOLA center around community support, professional development, and access to culturally responsive mentorship.

MENTOR OUTCOMES

Mentor Demographics

Geographic Distribution

Mentors are based in a variety of locations including Chicago, IL, Bronx, NY, Northborough, MA, Augusta, GA, and internationally in Lima, Perú.

Professional Titles

Roles range from Medical Students to Professors, Division Chiefs, and Attending Physicians.

Affiliations include

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
  • UMass Chan Medical School
  • Medical College of Georgia
  • Hospital Emergencias Ate Vitarte (Perú)
  • SBH Health System (NY)
Mentorship Experience and Commitment

Previous Experience

Most mentors have served as mentors in other capacities, though many are new to MOLA.

Commitment Levels

Nearly all respondents indicated they can meet or exceed the 1-hour per month mentorship requirement.

Mentee Preferences

Most mentors are open to mentoring between 1 to 3 mentees, with some preferring to begin with 1 mentee and scale up as needed.

Interests and Contributions

Mentorship Strengths

  • Several mentors bring first-generation, low-income, or IMG perspectives, which resonate deeply with MOLA’s mentee community.
  • Common values include resilience, guidance for the U.S. residency application process, motivation, networking, and mentorship in research and health equity.

Bios Reflect

  • Dedication to equity and education in underserved populations.
  • Active involvement in clinical work, academia, or global health.
  • A passion for paying it forward to support the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Overall Insights

  • Diverse professional stages (from trainees to seasoned clinicians)
  • Wide-ranging geographic and cultural backgrounds
  • A shared commitment to uplifting mentees through culturally-responsive, equitable guidance.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SUB COMMITTEES:

Three subcommittees are part of the Mentorship Program: Sexual and Gender Minority Health Committee, International Health Graduates (IHG), and Aves del Paraíso: Immigrant Health Taskforce. Our efforts aim to support existing community organizations and other MOLA programs, advocating for LHS+ participation in local health policy-making, implementing and supporting cultural and linguistically concordant healthcare, literacy resources, and research, and bridging the gap of LHS+ physicians.

SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITY HEALTH COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs: Bryan Huerta and Ariana Carrillo, pre-medical students The Sexual and Gender Minority Health Committee (SGM team) strives to create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals in the LHS+ community. We are dedicated to supporting our communities’ educational and professional development.

2024 in a Nutshell

We focused on creating a gender-inclusive Medical Spanish curriculum that will be implemented among local Chicago clinics. In 2024 we:

  • Created our curriculum and began the process of running focus groups for community feedback.
  • Helped plan the 2024 LGBTQ+ track at the MOLA – NAMS 2024 Annual Conference.
  • Presented “Inclusive Medical Spanish Curriculum” at the MOLA – NAMS 2024 Annual Conference: The Healing Power of Our Roots.
  • Team member, Samuel Mendez, presented at the 2024 APHA conference, in a presentation entitled, “Making space for trans+ latine patients: A literature review informing a curriculum for gender-inclusive medical spanish.”

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH GRADUATES

Co-Chairs: Janeth Cristina Castaño, MD, and Josselyn Velapucha, MD

IHG Research Subcommittee

Research leader, Dr. Evelyn Frias-Tora, published in important clinical journals along with IHG members

Mentoring Sessions

Multiple structured mentoring sessions were conducted, covering:

  • Scientific writing techniques
  • Journal selection strategies
  • Response-to-reviewer best practices
  • Ethical authorship and publication standards
  • Career development in academic research

Peer Review Engagement

Mentees were nominated and guided in their first peer-review
experiences. The following individuals were supported in accepting
and completing peer review invitations:

  1. Andri Matos
  2. Raquel Horowitz
  3. Santiago Bastidas
  4. Janeth Castaño
  5. Carolina Velepucha
  6. Jonathan Loayza
Download the MOLA Annual Report PDF version here

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