Regional Conference

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Byington is an academic physician-scientist who currently serves as the executive vice president and head of UC Health. Prior to this, she was the dean of the Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Senior Vice President of TAMU Health Science Center and Vice-Chancellor for Health Services. She is board certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Dr. Byington is an exemplary leader with an outstanding track record for which she has received many accomplishment and awards.

Dr. de Virgilio is an academic surgeon who currently serves as Chair of the Department of Surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and professor of surgery at UCLA School of Medicine.
You may recognize his name when you’re on your surgery rotation. Among his contributions to medical education includes his book “Surgery: A Case Based Clinical Review”. His career achievements include numerous teaching awards such as the Parker Palmer Courage to Teach Award and the Lucien B. Guze Golden Apple Award for Faculty Teacher of the Year.

Regional advisors

We are so grateful to have Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutiérrez as one of our LMSA SW regional advisors. She is a PM&R physician and Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Long School of Medicine at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Outside of being an accomplished physician, such as previously being program director of the Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship at McGovern Medical School, she is an avid runner and advocate in the Latinx community!

Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott is our LMSA SW regional advisor. She is the Vice Chancellor for Diversity at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She also is the Associate Dean for the UNM Health Sciences Center Office for Diversity, Professor at the UNM School of Medicine, UNM Department of Family & Community Medicine, and the UNM Combined BA/MD Degree Program. She is an inspirational, hardworking and phenomenal Latina in medicine that served as a primary care provider for many years on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities.

We are so happy to have Dr. Lisa Moreno-Walton as our LMSA SW regional advisor. She is the president of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. She also is the Director of the Division of Research, the Division of Diversity, and the Latino Health Scholars Program at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She is an incredible Latina physician who has served her community for many years on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities.⁠