NHMA Florida ChapterAnnual Meeting2026

The program · October 10, 2026

Big conversations,
one room

From the plenary keynote to HIV prevention: every session, its speakers, and what we talked about.

8:15 AMWelcome

Welcome & Opening Remarks

  • Serguei Castañeda, MD, FACROChair, NHMA Florida Chapter
  • Luis Isea Mercado, MD, FACPCo-Chair, NHMA Florida Chapter

What we talked about

  • Welcoming our community to the chapter’s first Annual Meeting
  • Our mission: mentorship, education and advocacy for Latino health

8:30 AMPlenary Keynote

From Venezuelan Families to Global Patient Safety: Uncovering an Emerging Anesthesia Risk

  • Veronica M. Zoghbi, MD, FASADirector of Pediatric Regional Anesthesia, University of Miami
  • Luis I. Rodriguez, MD, FASAPediatric Anesthesiologist, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

What we talked about

  • A story of discovery that began with families in our own community
  • From family histories to the laboratory
  • What it means for preoperative planning and patient safety around the world

9:30 AMSession

Exercise is Medicine in the GLP-1 Era

  • Cindy Sierra, MDPGY-1 Internal Medicine, FSU Cape Coral
  • Ivonne de la Hoz, MDAssistant Program Director, IM Residency, AdventHealth Orlando

What we talked about

  • Barriers to physical activity in Latino communities
  • Movement as a vital sign, and how to write an exercise prescription
  • Obesity medications: benefits and safety
  • Exercise with GLP-1s: preserving muscle and keeping weight off

10:00 AMSession

Men’s Health Across the Lifespan: Prevention, Sexual Health, Mental Well-Being & Prostate Cancer

  • Luis Isea Mercado, MD, FACPInternal Medicine · Men’s Health · Cancer Survivorship, AdventHealth Medical Group
  • Serguei Castañeda, MD, FACRORadiation Oncology; Medical Director, CB Oncology Partners
  • Ariel Kaufman, MDUrology · Robotic Surgery, Urology Specialists, Miami

What we talked about

  • BPH: a quick, practical review
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Fatigue and testosterone: who really needs TRT?
  • Prostate cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment

11:00 AMSession

Immunization Updates in Primary Care

  • Claudia Landaeta, MDMedical Director, Ollie Pediatrics
  • Gadiel R. Alvarado, DOInfectious Disease Physician, AdventHealth Medical Group

What we talked about

  • What’s new in the 2026 vaccine recommendations
  • Flu and COVID-19 for the 2026–27 season
  • RSV, HPV and pneumococcal prevention
  • Building vaccine confidence in Hispanic communities

11:30 AMSponsored session

Hereditary Cancer & ctDNA Monitoring: What Primary Care Physicians Need to Know

Sponsored session presented by Natera

  • Gisell Kasmaii, BSN, RN, OCNClinical Genomic Specialist, Natera

What we talked about

  • Recognizing hereditary cancer risk in primary care
  • From genetic risk to prevention
  • Where ctDNA monitoring fits in

12:45 PMSponsored session

Match Ready: Your Application, Your Story, Your Interview

Sponsored session presented by AdventHealth GME

  • Graciela Luna, MDFaculty, IM Residency, Lakeland Regional Health
  • Daniela Carralero Somoza, MDFaculty, IM Residency, Lakeland Regional Health
  • Ivonne de la Hoz, MDAssistant Program Director, IM Residency, AdventHealth Orlando

What we talked about

  • Building a strong residency application
  • Telling your story
  • Preparing for the interview
  • Real questions from applicants in the room

1:45 PMPanel

Wellness Across the Medical Journey

  • Cindy Sierra, MDPGY-1 Internal Medicine, FSU Cape Coral
  • Diana Lara, MDPGY-1 Internal Medicine, Orlando Health
  • Lizette Roque, PsyD, MBABehavioral Medicine Faculty, AdventHealth Family Medicine Residency, Winter Park

What we talked about

  • Well-being from medical school to residency and beyond
  • Caring for the people who care for others

2:15 PMSponsored session

The Physician’s Wealth Journey: Strategic Decisions Across Every Stage of Practice

Sponsored session presented by Truist

  • Michael AcevedoSouth Florida Regional Sales Leader, Truist (moderator)
  • Alex CabreraMortgage Banker, Truist
  • Christopher LawFinancial Consultant, Truist Investment Services
  • Adrian DavisNational Retail Mortgage Banker, Truist

What we talked about

  • Financial decisions at every stage, from training to practice
  • Home financing and investing perspectives
  • Questions from trainees and physicians in the room

3:15 PMSponsored session

Florida Physicians & Families Thrive: Dairy’s Role in Peak Health

Sponsored session presented by Dairy Council of Florida

  • Tony Castillo, MS, RD, LDNSports & Performance Dietitian; Founder, Nutrition for Performance

What we talked about

  • Dairy-based strategies for energy, satiety and recovery
  • Nutrition habits that fit a physician’s schedule
  • Portable meals and snacks for clinic, call and travel

3:45 PMSponsored session

Gaps in Preventative HIV Care and Opportunities to Address Systemic Failures

Sponsored session presented by Gilead Sciences

  • Susan Spivey-O’Neal, PharmDDirector, US Medical Affairs, HIV Prevention, Gilead Sciences

What we talked about

  • Gaps in PrEP awareness among clinicians and patients
  • How stigma, perceived risk and distrust affect prevention
  • Barriers around cost, access and medication concerns
  • Disparities between men and women, and opportunities for change

Research took the stage, too.

See the research competition