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Who We Are

The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) is a network of students, alumni, and health professionals whose mission is to promote the development of Latino students through educational, volunteer, professional, and networking opportunities to foster diversity, higher education, and the improvement of the Latino community. 

​

LMSA-West region represents Latinx medical students and other allied health professionals across 11 states: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

$50,000+

In support to our chapters and members.

29+

Active Chapters in the West Region

200+

LMSA - Western Region Members

$200,000+

Amount of Scholarships Provided

Our Mission

LMSA-West recruits and supports individuals in the healthcare professions who will strive to improve the access and delivery of healthcare to Latinos & medically underserved populations.

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Our History

LMSA started in 1970 as the National Chicano Health Organization (NCHO), a leading force in the recruitment and retention of Chicano health students between 1977 and 1982. With the tremendous need for effective programs to increase the number of Latino students in health professions, the founding members of the NCHO started the Chicano/Latino Medical Student Association (CMSA) as a network of medical students throughout the entire state of California in 1982. CMSA was officially introduced as a statewide organization during the National Association of Minority Medical Educators (NAMME) Conference in September 1984 .  CMSA changed its name to the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) in July 2003. LMSA was incorporated as an official organization in 2005 and received its 501(c)3 Non-profit organizational status in 2007.

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Meet Our Leadership

LMSA-West Region has chapters in 10 of the 11 states part of the west region. The West Region of LMSA represents approximately 17% of all medical students who identify as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in U.S. states per 2017-2018 enrollment data. 

​

Meet here our Regional Board and Regional Advisory Board, who support the activities of the LMSA West Region and provide our members and community with mentorship, community service, and policy.

Regional Board Members

Board Members
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Marlisa Olea-Gallardo

Co-Director

University of California - Davis School of Medicine

northernceo@lmsa.net

    Margarita Ramirez Silva

    Co-Director

    Stanford University School of Medicine

    southernceo@lmsa.net

      Frank Sierra

      Director-Elect

      University of California - Davis School of Medicine

      directorelect.west@lmsa.net

        Kelvin Alvarez

        Director-Elect

        Keck School of Medicine of USC

        ​director-elect@lmsa.net

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          Jose Sandoval

          Chief Financial Officer

          University of California - San Diego School of Medicine

          chieffinancialofficer@lmsa.ne

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            Ernesto Rojas

            Chief Information Officer

            University of California - San Francisco School of Medicine 

            chiefinformationofficer@lmsa.net

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              Juan Floriano Muñiz

              VP of Community Affairs

               

              University of California - Davis School of Medicine

              vp_communityaffairs@lmsa.net

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                Lorenzo Santamaria

                VP of Development

                A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

                vp_development@lmsa.net

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                  Samuel Higuera

                  VP of Internal Affairs

                  University of California - Riverside School of Medicine

                  vp_internalaffairs@lmsa.net

                  Susana Camacho Plascencia
                  VP of Medical Education

                  Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

                  vp_mentorship@lmsa.net

                  Priscilla Mariscal

                  VP of Mentorship

                  Genova Hernandez

                  VP of Mentorship

                  A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

                  vp_mentorship@lmsa.net

                  Western University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

                  vp_mentorship@lmsa.net

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                        Emanuel R. Morales Guzman

                        VP of Policy

                        University of California - Davis School of Medicine

                        vp_policy2@lmsa.net

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                        Isabella Reitz

                        VP of Policy

                        Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

                        vp_policy@lmsa.net

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                        Miguel Jaime

                        VP of Research & Analytics

                        Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

                        vp_researchanalytics@lmsa.net

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                        ​Hector Gonzalez

                        VP of Scholarships

                        Stanford University School of Medicine​

                        vp_scholarship@lmsa.net

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                              Yensi Muñoz​

                              VP of Scholarships

                              Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine 

                              vp_scholarship@lmsa.net

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                                Natalie Coca​

                                VP of Conference

                                ​University of California Davis School of Medicine

                                vp_conference@lmsa.net

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                                Esmeralda Santos

                                ​​VP of Conference

                                Western University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

                                vp_conference@lmsa.net

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                                Katya Vera
                                VP of Social Media

                                Stanford University School of Medicine

                                vp_socialmedia@lmsa.net

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                                Alex Alvarez

                                Undergraduate Representative

                                University of California - San Francisco Post-Bacc

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                                Luis Dominguez Monge

                                Undergraduate Representative

                                Arizona State University

                                Past Regional Board Members

                                Adali Martinez - Adán García-Mecinas - Adrian Delgado - Alexis Velazquez - Alfonso Robles - Amber Lara - Andrea Quinones - Arielle Rubin - Armando Martinez - Arturo Barrios Martinez - Beatriz Marron - Bert Pineda - Brenda Iglesias - Byron Rastegari - Camila Hurtado - Cecil Mayra Benitez - Cindy Fernandez - Claudia Lopez - Cristina Villalpando - Daniel Diaz - Diana Ramos - Edgar Corona - Edgar Ochoa - Elsie Urete - Erin Urbanowicz - Ernesto Casillas - Esteban Aguayo - Faby Molina Torres - Fatima Reyes - Jackie Leon - Jasmin Santos - Jorge Ballon - Jorge Torres - Karina Diaz - Katherine Brito -Leo Estrada - Lizbeth Sanchez - ​Lobsang Marcias - Marcela Zhou Huang - Mariana Martinez - Marisol Manzon - Martin Escandon - Miguel Amezcua - Miguel Ruvalcaba - Myra Gutierrez - Nancy Lopez - Nancy Rodriguez - Natalie Hernandez - Nicole Fierro - Obed Barrera - Omar Viramontes - Oscar G. Echevarria - Ricardo Padilla - Robert Olmeda - Ruben Mora - Samuel Castro - Shering Torres - Sophia Hernandez - Stephanie Clavijo - Stephanie Varela - Susana Sandoval - Viviana Huang-Chen - Wendy Silva - Yesenia Salazar- Vanessa Núñez- Robert Olmeda Barrientos- Bianka Aceves Martin- Sergio Trejo Jr. - Kevin Cabrerra- Emily Angeles Macinas- Steve Cochancela- Mariela Magaña CeballosMonique Ortiz- Alexis Rodriguez-Trisha Chau

                                ​

                                Regional Advisory Board

                                Advisor Board
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                                Margarita Loeza, M.D.

                                Family Medicine

                                Venice Family Clinic

                                Amanda Perez, M.D.

                                Emergency Medicine

                                Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

                                Donald Portocarrero, D.O.

                                Gastroenterology

                                USC Arcadia Hospital

                                Adventist Health White Memorial

                                Lisa Montes, M.D.

                                Pediatrics

                                Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

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                                Christian DeVirgilio, MD.

                                Vascular Surgery

                                Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

                                Cristobal Barrios,
                                MD.

                                Trauma Surgery

                                UCI Health

                                Peter Ureste, MD.

                                Psychiatry

                                UCSF

                                Daniel Diaz, DO 

                                Sports Medicine

                                AltaMed

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                                Samuel Saenz, M.D, M.P.H.

                                Psychiatry

                                Stanford University

                                Sofia Gonzalez, MD 

                                Family Medicine | Geriatrics 

                                Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

                                Richard Ferro, MD

                                Family Medicine

                                DHS Mobile Clinic 

                                Past Advisory Board Members

                                Fernando Antelo, MD - Jose Avalos, MD - Alberto Manetta, MD - Mario San Bartolome, MD - Richard Zapanta, MD

                                Our Chapters

                                The West Region of LMSA represents approximately 17% of all medical students who identify as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in U.S. states per 2017-2018 enrollment data. 

                                ​

                                The LMSA-West region has active chapters in 10 of the 11 states we represent, including Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. 

                                 

                                Find here a list of our chapters and click more to find contact information. If you are a member, click below to find the different forms and resources for current LMSA - West members. 

                                ​

                                Have any questions or need additional support, contact us.  

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                                AT Still School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

                                ARIZONA

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                                Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine 

                                ARIZONA

                                Learn More
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                                Midwestern University - Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine 

                                ARIZONA

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                                University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix

                                ARIZONA

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                                University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson

                                ARIZONA

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                                California Northstate University College of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

                                CALIFORNIA

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                                Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                Keck School of Medicine of USC

                                CALIFORNIA

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                                Loma Linda University School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                Stanford University School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

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                                Touro California

                                CALIFORNIA

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                                UC Davis School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

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                                UC Irvine School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                UC San Diego School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                UC Riverside School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

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                                UC San Francisco School of Medicine

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                Western University of Health Sciences

                                CALIFORNIA

                                Learn More
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                                Touro Nevada

                                NEVADA

                                Learn More
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                                University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine 

                                NEVADA

                                Learn More
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                                University of Nevada School of Medicine

                                NEVADA

                                Learn More
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                                Oregon Health & Science University

                                OREGON

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                                Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

                                UTAH

                                Learn More
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                                Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

                                UTAH

                                Learn More
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                                University of Utah School of Medicine

                                UTAH

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                                Pacific Northwest University Health Sciences

                                WASHINGTON

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                                University of Washington School of Medicine

                                WASHINGTON

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                                Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

                                WASHINGTON

                                LMSA Chapters
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