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.
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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.
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.
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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
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Samantha Garcia
Co-Director
UCLA/CDU Medical Education Program
Elizabeth Flores
Co-Director
UCLA/CDU Medical Education Program
Marlisa Olea-Gallardo
Director-Elect
Margarita Ramirez Silva
Director-Elect
Stanford School of Medicine
Jose Sandoval
Chief Financial Officer
Ernesto Rojas
Chief Information Officer
University of California - San Francisco School of Medicine
Juan Floriano Muñiz
VP of Community Affairs
Lorenzo Santamaria
VP of Development
A.T Still University
Wilkin Muñoz
VP of Internal Affairs
Frank Sierra
VP of Medical Education
University of California-Davis School of Medicine
Genova Hernandez
VP of Mentorship
Samuel Castro
VP of Mentorship
​WesternU College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Stanford School of Medicine
Orlando Acuña
VP of Policy
Keck USC School of Medicine
Larissa Nicolas
VP of Policy
Eddie Garcia
VP of Research & Analytics
Touro University California
​Hector Gonzalez
VP of Scholarships
Stanford School of Medicine​
Leslye Verenice Santiago Gasteiger
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VP of Scholarships
Midwestern University - Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Christopher Hernandez Salinas
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VP of Conference
Alex Alvarez
Undergraduate Representative
UC San Francisco (Post-Bacc)
Jennifer Pinal
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VP of Conference
​University of California- Riverside School of Medicine
Samuel Higuera
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VP of Social Media
Janelle Zavaleta
Undergraduate Representative
Mt. Saint Mary's 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 - 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 Ceballos- Monique Ortiz- Alexis Rodriguez-Trisha Chau
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Regional Advisory Board
Margarita Loeza, MD.
Family Medicine
Venice Family Clinic
Amanda Perez, MD.
Emergency Medicine
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Donald Portocarrero, DO.
Gastroenterology
USC Arcadia Hospital
Adventist Health White Memorial
Lisa Montes, MD.
Pediatrics
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
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
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.
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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.
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Have any questions or need additional support, contact us.
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Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
ARIZONA
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California Northstate University College of Medicine
CALIFORNIA
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science
CALIFORNIA
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Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
CALIFORNIA
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Loma Linda University School of Medicine
CALIFORNIA
UC Irvine School of Medicine
CALIFORNIA
UC San Diego School of Medicine
CALIFORNIA
UC San Francisco School of Medicine
CALIFORNIA
Western University of Health Sciences
CALIFORNIA
Touro Nevada
NEVADA
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University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
NEVADA
University of Nevada School of Medicine
NEVADA
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Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
UTAH
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Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
UTAH
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