TCOM’s Latino Medical Student Association named Southwest Chapter of the Year

February 9, 2023
By: Steven Bartolotta
On Campus

A year of hard work, volunteering, and bringing the regional conference to Fort Worth earned the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Latino Medical Student Association the LMSA Southwest Chapter of the Award. The award was an exclamation point on a weekend that saw the chapter bring the LMSA Southwest Regional Conference to the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

“It was definitely a lot of work, especially since we were among 27 different medical schools in our region, but I had a mission when I entered my role as president,” said Owen Sáenz, President of TCOM’s LMSA Chapter. “That mission was to be the best organization. Not necessarily for the credit, but to stay true to our mission: To unite and empower our Latino community and promote Latino health.”

TCOM’s LMSA Executive Board Members for 2022-23 were led by Sáenz who served as the President. Homero Coss was the Vice President, Angela Paez-Rodriguez was the Secretary and Sebastian Meza was Treasurer. The Spanish Curriculum Director was Aiyana Ponce, External Affairs was Edward Vera and Alicia Segovia was the Regional Representative.

From February 2022 to December 2022, students from LMSA were engaged in activities and programs on the HSC campus and in the community. In March they hosted a “Road to Medicine” in collaboration with the JAMP program and the Student National Medical Association while also selling a Medical Spanish pocket guide. HSC recognized the group in April with the Extraordinary Values Award, they hosted a Futbol tournament on the MET Lawn and an LMSA Match Panel with fourth-year students

They celebrated Diversity Week in May and hosted history professor Armando Villareal from Tarrant County College to discuss the misconceptions about Cinco De Mayo.

In June, they helped plan and execute the first “Latinos En Medicina” camp for kids held at HSC. As school was starting back up around the region, they partnered with the Society of American Academy of Osteopathy and the Student National Medical Association in delivering free sports physicals and health screenings to predominately underserved communities.

They hosted the first Medical Spanish Lesson to teach medical Spanish for every program at HSC in September. In October they hosted a student panel at Crowley High School as volunteers shared their journey to medical school experience with the students.

In November LMSA held another community health fair to provide health screenings, blood pressure, and glucose checks to underserved communities.

“In the end, a group of passionate, underrepresented individuals came together and showcased what leadership and motivation can do,” said Sáenz. “We met every goal of ours and more. As president of our chapter, I am proud of the impact we had and hope our efforts continue.”

All of these events and more were done, while also preparing to host the LMSA Southwest Regional Conference.

“I am so proud of our LMSA students for receiving this terrific award,” said Dr. Frank Filipetto, Dean of TCOM. “They have worked so hard throughout the year, not only putting the regional conference together but also at so many different events in our community. I want to thank the leadership of TCOM’s LMSA and congratulate them on winning this award.”

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