LSUHSC Hosts National Hispanic Network Annual International Conference
LSU Health Sciences Center recently hosted the National Hispanic Network (NHSN) 24th
Annual International Conference, titled Vulnerability AND Resilience: The Interplay of Factors that Shape Health in Hispanic/Latino
Communities. NHSN, co-chaired by Drs. Patricia E. Molina, MD, PhD from LSUHSC and Avelardo Valdez,
PhD from UCSD, is dedicated to addressing and reducing health disparities affecting
U.S. Latino communities. NHSN addresses the underrepresentation of Latino scientists
in the scientific workforce pipeline through conscious, dedicated, and collaborative
efforts and the creation of a mentoring network to foster career development.
The conference was co-chaired by Tara Bautista, PhD from University of Northern Arizona and Luis Natividad, PhD from UT Austin and explored internal and external factors that drive pathology towards disease development and progression, while also identifying the factors that promote health and the ability to overcome those odds. The activities included an Early Career Leadership Committee (ECLC) sponsored Grant Writing Session that discussed the role of the Center for Scientific Review in assignment of applications.
The New Investigator’s Panel featured promising future researchers including LSUHSC’s
Zaidmara Teresa Diaz (L2). Two poster sessions showcased work from the spectrum of
scientific fields and presenters included LSUHSC PREP, Endure, and T32 trainees. Finally,
the Datablitz Breakout Sessions provided snapshots of ongoing work by trainees and
featured Xavier Chapa, an NIAAA T32 supported LSUHSC postdoctoral fellow.
There were more than 120 abstract submissions this year. Keishla Rodriguez-Graziani, PhD and Deja Holmes, LSUHSC T32 trainee and PREP scholar respectively, earned the top awards for basic science posters. The annual awards dinner and dance and the ECLC mixer provided spaces and opportunities to connect with colleagues and form new collaborations.
The planning committee co-chairs were supported by a network of individuals from NIH and from multiple academic institutions across the country who volunteer their time and energy to the NHSN. Organizational support was provided by Conference Coordinator Melissa Prestwood, who provided invaluable, professional, and timely support and guidance to the conference chairs and committee throughout the planning process.
One of the highlights of the conference was the plenary presentation presented by
Adriana Galván, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education,
University of California Los Angeles who spoke on Adolescent Brain Development: The
Importance of Connections. Additional scientific sessions included:
- How Sex and Gender Impact Latina Health;
- Lessons Learned from Inhalation Toxicology Studies;
- Advancing Mental Health Equity for Latinas: Structural, Social, and Developmental Factors;
- Overturning Dogma to Break Barriers in Women’s Health Research: The Ovary-Uterus-Brain Connection Impacts Memory Across the Lifespan;
- Advancing Our Understanding of Biopsychosocial Factors that Affect the Health of Hispanic Communities;
- Leveraging Indigenous Knowledge and Culture to Engage Hispanic/Latino Communities;
- Lessons Learned in Advancing Health Equity on the US-Mexico Border;
- Using Allostatic Load to Understand the “Chronic Stress-Health Behavior-Mental Health” Relationship;
- Impact of Opioids and Stress Across the Lifespan;
- Telehealth for Reaching Hispanic/Latinos who Experience Mental Health Problems After Exposure to Trauma: Promising Strength Based Options;
- Equitable Treatment Development for Addiction via Inclusive Clinical Trials;
- Alcohol and Whole-Person Health Throughout the Lifespan;
- Sociocultural Factors Associated with Pre- to Post-Immigration Alcohol Use Trajectories Among Young Adult Recent Latino Immigrants During Their First Decade in the U.S.;
- Alcohol and Alzheimer’s Disease: Heavy Use Earlier in Life Promotes Pathology Later in Life; and
- The Protective Role of Personal Identity in Alcohol Use Progression Among Hispanic Adolescents.
The closing session, Community Engagement Session: Community Based Approaches and Engagement Strategies for Neuroscience and Social Sciences, was held on Saturday morning and featured Ian Mendez, PhD, Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at El Paso; Teresa Ramirez, PhD, Program Manager of ecoLatinos; and Emma Torres, MSW, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Campesinos Sin Fronteras. They discussed recruiting, engaging, training, and retaining diverse students, faculty, scientists, and participants in a variety of settings and across scientific disciplines and research foci.
Support for this conference was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Grant 5R13DA026647-15 to LSUHSC (PI, Molina), with supplemental support from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NHSN expressed appreciation for the support from LSUHSC's Office of the Chancellor.