Dr. Lisa Moreno Walton LSUHSC New Orleans School of Medicine
Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott UNM School of Medicine
Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez UT San Antonio Long School of Medicine
Dr. Moreno Walton is Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of Research and Director of Diversity for the Section of Emergency Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans. She serves as Director of the Latino Scholars Program for the School of Medicine and Regional Faculty Advisor for the Southwestern Region of the Latino Medical Student Association. Dr. Moreno is the first womanPresident of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM). During her years serving on the AAEM Board of Directors, she has focused on the development of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership positions. She holds degrees in Medicine and Clinical Research, and is a National Institutes of Health Research Scholar. She is the founder of the Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine (ADIEM), an academy of the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). Her multiple awards include the SAEM Martin Leadership Award, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Professionalism Award, Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine Distinguished Educator Award, the ADIEM Outstanding Academician Award, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Healthcare Executive Diversity & Inclusion Certificate, and the Order of the International Federation of Emergency Medicine. The recipient of many research grants, Dr. Moreno has over 500 academic presentations, 45 publications, 6 book chapters, and two authored textbooks “Diversity and Inclusion in Quality Patient Care,” and “Your Story, Our Story: A Case Compendium of Diversity and Inclusion in Quality Patient Care.” Her research interests include HIV, violence prevention and treatment, diversity and healthcare disparities. Her office at University Medical Center participates in the LSU School of Medicine Dean’s Summer Research Program, mentoring college students who aspire to careers in medicine towards the completion of basic research projects. She has mentored over 300 students, residents, and junior faculty around the world towards successful careers in research and medicine. As a global health consultant and educator, she has served in over 25 countries with a focus on the development of research and elimination of healthcare disparities for women, underrepresented minorities, and the under-resourced.
Dr. Romero-Leggott has been a primary care provider for many years on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities. She graduated medical school and completed her Family Medicine residency training at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Romero-Leggott is a native New Mexican with strong roots in her cultural heritage. Presently, Romero-Leggott serves as Vice Chancellor & Chief Diversity Officer at the UNM Health Sciences Center, and Professor in the UNM Department of Family and Community Medicine. She also serves as the Executive Director of the UNM Combined BA/MD Degree Program and Medical Director of the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center. Her office advances diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the Health Sciences Center and communities through capacity building and sustainable programs and collaborations. Dr. Romero-Leggott serves as a leader, convener and collaborator. She has forged important bridges between the UNM Health Sciences Center and New Mexico community groups and created cross-disciplinary programs across academic units. Her professional interests are adolescent medicine, diverse populations, education pipeline, and enhancing a culturally sensitive & linguistically competent, diverse, and prepared health workforce to improve health and health equity.
Dr. Verduzco-Gutierrez is an accomplished academic Physiatrist and Professor and Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio. She previously was the Medical Director of the Brain Injury and Stroke Program at a top three US News and World Report Best Hospital for Rehabilitation. Dr. Gutierrez grew up in South Texas, then moved to Houston where she earned her undergraduate degree at Rice University, her medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine, and completed her PM&R residency training at the Baylor College of Medicine-UT Houston Rehabilitation Alliance. She excitedly moved to San Antonio to lead the distinguished Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in 2020. Her area of clinical expertise is the care of patients with traumatic brain injury, stroke rehabilitation, and interventional spasticity management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has developed a Post-COVID Recovery Clinic to aid in the rehabilitative recovery of patients with functional, mobility, and cognitive deficits after infection with coronavirus. At the McGovern Medical School, Dr. Gutierrez was elected chair of the Faculty Senate, where her work focused on developing wellness initiatives for faculty. She has won multiple awards for medical student and resident teaching and has had several administrative roles in the Memorial Hermann Hospital System. Dr. Gutierrez is a passionate advocate for physiatry and for underrepresented groups in medicine via social media channels. She is the social media editor of the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Inspired by her upbringing in the Rio Grande Valley, she is dedicated to giving back to her community by mentoring students, trainees and young faculty from diverse backgrounds, and providing top-level clinical care for the underserved.