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Regional IX Conference

Region IX is proud to present....

SNMA Region IX
Regional Medical Conference
Minorities in Medicine: Past, Present, and Future

Date: Saturday, February 23, 2008
Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Columbia University Medical Center



Online Registration Now Available: 

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Workshops for Pre Med and Med Students!!!!
Great Networking Opportunity!!!!
Great Food and Lots of Fun!!!!
After-Party On Campus!!!!

Regional Conference Schedule 

9:00 am – 9:15 am Opening Remarks
9:15 am – 9:45 am Past
9:45 am – 10:15 am Present
10:15 am – 10:40 am Future
10:40 am – 11:20 am Keynote
10:30 am – 11:30 am Lunch Set-Up
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Fair Set-Up
11:30 am – 12:15pm Lunch
12:00 pm – 1:45 pm Residency Fair / Lunch
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm Workshop 1
2:50 pm – 3:40 pm Workshop 2
3:40 pm - 4:20 pm Workshops 3
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Financial, Resume, Closing Statements
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm SiCKO


Scheduled Workshops

1) Dealing with the Inevitable: 
How to Handle Inappropriate Comments from Higher-Ups and Peers.
We have been and will be present when our peers and "higher ups" make comments that are culturally insensitive/ignorant, as well as comments that could be taken as sexual harassment. How do we appropriately respond to these kind of comments?

2) Cultural Competence
How to continue to educate ourselves and others.
How do we effectively learn about ourselves and our prejudgments and how they will affect our patient interactions and outcomes? How can we educate others we work with?

3) Getting Our Voice Heard: A Policy Discussion.
An opportunity to discuss the lecture on single-payer/national health insurance: is this the best way to move forward for the nation, especially given the health disparities that we face under the current system? How do we get our voice heard in politics, organize, be active, contact legislators and effect change on a state and national level.

4) Choosing a Specialty:
Money and Prestige vs Service, Subspecialty vs Primary Care
Choosing a specialty can be difficult for anyone. It might be particularly difficult for minorities when between primary care vs. a specialized field, for example. How do we choose a specialty for the “right” reasons and not feel like a “sell-out” if you chose a specialty that does not directly or massively serve the underserved community. Can you subspecialize and still be adequately involved in the community? What is our responsibility as future physicians of color? To what extent should we advocate for our patients and be activists, regardless of the specialty we’re decide?

5) Nutrition
Looking for that filling, yet healthy snack that can fit in a white coat pocket? How to eat healthy as a busy medical student on a medical student budget.

6) Communication Skills and Workshop
Our careers are all about communicating: with patients, peers, residents and attendings; networking and giving talks. How to be a better at communicating and listening.

7) Minority Medical Student Burnout
As students who feel the need to address health disparities, who want to support our communities within and beyond medical school and who face other additional pressures of being a person of color, how do we lead a balanced life? Tips for being a successful medical student, while still being a complete and spiritually healthy person.

8) Global Health and the Minority Physician
A discussion about the role and impact of physicians of color in developing countries. Do short visits by doctors to developing, needy areas – a traditionally white venture – make a real impact or only make the doctors feel good? Should we focus on the struggles of the poor people in our own neighborhoods or of the poor people abroad?

9) Research in Minority Issues
How to get into research, finding a mentor, get funding, starting a project, have a career in research while practicing, serve the community in a different way

10) LGBT
a) interviewing queer patients and how to address health and other issues that affect the 
LGBT population, especially in communities of color and as a physician of color.
b) The Down Low: Men who have sex with men in the Black community and the health issues that 
result such as Black women are the fastest growing population of HIV/AIDS affected individuals.

11) Financial Planning
Very soon, we will begin medical careers starting with 5-figure salaries while having to begin to pay back 6 figure debt. What is the best strategy for paying down this debt. What are some important facts to know about debt management? Should we buy houses or rent? What i smy credit score and what does it mean? 401k vs 403B? IRA vs Roth IRA? Answers to these questions and more!!!

12) Run a Code
Harvey, a cardiopulmonary simulator at Columbia, is a great clinical learning tool. Limited to 10 participants per session (3 sessions)