Hispanic Heritage Month to be celebrated with food, music and lectures

[Collage of images from UAHS Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month 2024]Several Department of Medicine staffers joined the University of Arizona Health Sciences Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion for the launch of its Hispanic Heritage Month activities Friday, Sept. 20, in the Hippocrates Courtyard, which lies between the base of the Sarver Heart Center elevator and the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy museum.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs this year from Sunday, Sept. 15 to Tuesday, Oct 15. See a mini-photo gallery from the event below.

The University of Arizona Folklorico dancers entertained those who attended with music – mariachi and salsa – provided by a DJ. Food was provided via a food truck, Ensenada Street Food, offering birria, carne asada and fish and vegetarian tacos and burritos. Free beverages (horchata and jamaica) and Mexican candy treats were available as well. And Francisco Moreno, MD, Health Sciences associate vice president for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a professor of psychiatry at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson, spoke briefly. 

Among DOM attendees – representing the Divisions of Gastroenterology & Hepatology; General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine; and Nephrology; the DOM Office of Education as well as the Office of the Chair – were Gynelle Castaneda, Stephanie Clinch, Gina Favela, Bersabe Lopez, David Mogollon, Carmen Ramos, Lisa Torres-Jones and Tyler Wong.

Alma Aguirre, an EDI office administrative associate and program manager, pointed out the U of A Health Sciences office also would host a Salsa Tasting Competition on Sept. 24 in the Health Sciences Library lobby, noon-1 p.m.

It also is hosting a Hispanic Heritage Speaker Series, presented virtually, that will feature: [Images of flyers for the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Speaker Series lectures, Oct. 1-8, 2024]

  • Hector Rico, MPH, clinical director, Clinica Amistad, which is part of the college’s student-led Commitment to Underserved Populations Program, who’ll talk on “From Inspiration to Action: Building Health Equity in Our Community,” Oct. 1, 9-10 a.m. Register here.
  • Natalie Lárez, PhD, a pediatric postdoctoral psychology fellow, who’ll talk on “The Intersection of Youth Mental Health and Chronic Illness through a Social Determinants of Health Framework,” Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-noon. Register here.
  • Celia P. Valenzuela, MD, vice dean, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the College of Medicine – Tucson and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who’ll speak on “Latinas in Medicine: Why Representation Matters,” Oct. 8, 1-2 p.m. Register here.

Aguirre also stressed that the U of A Health Sciences EDI office also would host an event for “DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2024: A Celebration of Life” on Oct. 24, Noon-2 p.m., in the Hippocrates Courtyard, again with food, beverages, music and folklorico. Register here.

And don't forget the DOM Spark DEI Lecture with Wake Forest Baptist Cancer Center’s Ruben Mesa, MD, on “Diverse Cancer Clinical Trials: Good Care – Good Science,” Oct. 3, Noon-1 p.m. Click here to learn more.

Now, enjoy the following photos from the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Sept. 20:

MINI-PHOTO GALLERY
Click on images to enlarge. Rollover image with mouse for captions.

[Flyer for the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration displayed with balloons at event hosted by UAHS Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Hippocrates Courtyard between the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson and the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy] [Lisa Torres-Jones, an administrative associate in the DOM Office of the Chair, enjoys birria tacos and jamaica served at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in between the AHS Library, Sarver Heart Center, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Innovation Building] [With the Health Sciences Innovation Building behind them, people gathering for the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration line up at the Ensenada Street Food truck for meat and vegetarian tacos and burritos.] [People line up at the Ensenada Street Food truck for meat and vegetarian tacos and burritos at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.]

[Dancers from the U of A Folklorico Program sashay and swing their skirts on traditional Mexican dresses at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [Dancers from the U of A Folklorico Program sashay and swing their skirts on traditional Mexican dresses at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [Dancers from the U of A Folklorico Program sashay and swing their skirts on traditional Mexican dresses at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [Dancers from the U of A Folklorico Program sashay and swing their skirts on traditional Mexican dresses at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.]

[Dancers from the U of A Folklorico Program sashay and swing their skirts on traditional Mexican dresses at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [A DJ at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration plays mariachi and salsa music for the dancers and the crowd gathered in the Hippocrates Courtyard.] [Carmen Ramos and Stephanie Clinch, from the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, enjoy the music at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [Balloons around signage for the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration as Dr. Francisco Moreno readies to speak.]

[Dr. Francisco Moreno, associate vice president of the UAHS Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, addresses the crowd at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, as Ted Tong, PharmD (center foreground), listens.] [Dr. Francisco Moreno speaks at UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [Finished speaking, Dr. Francisco Moreno walks past "Hispanic Heritage Month" poster at celebration hosted by UAHS Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.] [U of A Folklorico dancers chat after performing at the UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.]

[Dr. Fransicso Moreno, at right, chats with José Luis Muñoz Jr., EdD, College of Medicine – Tucson DEI office director, and a colleague.] [At right, Tyler Wong, Ambulatory Medicine Clerkship coordinator, and Bersabe Lopez, Nephrology Fellowship coordinator, walk toward Mexican food truck at UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.] [U of A Folklorico dancers gather at Ensenada Street Food truck for tacos.] [Bags of Mexican candies serve as UAHS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration treats as well as tip off for related upcoming lectures, too.]

(Photos courtesy of David Mogollon)

DOM calendar item for this event.

Release Date: 
09/23/2024 - 3:00pm
Media Contact: 
David Mogollon | Communications Manager, University of Arizona Department of Medicine