Newsletter - October/November 2019
Legislative Update
Trump Administration stopped the DACA Policy this summer - started by President Obama, that will dissolve the rights of undocumented young people brought by their parents to the U.S., who now include an estimated 200 medical students.

On Nov. 12, NHMA joined the Brief for Amici Curiae Association of the American Medical Colleges, Et Al in support of Respondents in the Supreme Court Case to save DACA: Department of Homeland Security, et al v. Regents of the University of California. Read more ...

NHMA sent a letter sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler on October 21 opposing EPA’s rule weakening regulations implementing Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Read more ...

NHMA signed onto the Call to Action on Climate, Health, and Equity Policy Action Agenda . The agenda calls on the government, business and civil society leaders, elected officials, and candidates for office to recognize climate change as a health emergency to urges them to work across government agencies and with communities and businesses. Read the full Policy Agenda here .

NHMA supported the Administration’s plan , to clear the market of all non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, until they are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. Read the letter to President Trump , the First Lady , and Secretary Azar .

NHMA commented on October 15 regarding FDA’s proposed rule to establish new required health warnings for cigarette packages and advertisements. Read the comment here .

NHMA supports implementing the Special Registration for Telemedicine Act of 2018, which was a part of the SUPPORT for Patient and Communities Act . Read the letter here .

Important Policy Update:
The Affordable Care Act decision is expected this fall from the Fifth Circuit Court on Texas vs U.S. and the appeal from California, et al. on its constitutionality. Read more
Programs Update
Check out our Current Programs :

  • NHMA 2020 Annual Hispanic Health Conference
  • NIDDK/NHMA Travel Award
  • NIH All of Us Research Program
  • NHMA Cholesterol Management Campaign
  • NEW! NHMA Chapters
  • NHMA Medical School Liaison Program
  • NHMA - CDC PACT - Let's Stop HIV Together
  • NHMA Seasonal Influenza Campaign
  • NHMA College Health Scholars Program
  • NHHF Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarships
Pictured above: NHMA President and CEO Dr. Elena Rios and the CTCA Hispanic Advisory Council. October 2019
Membership Update
NHMA Members are hard at work being catalyst for change in their communities. Each serve in many different ways. 



The 4 major values of an NHMA membership are Advocacy, Education, Leadership Development and Networking. Our major benefits for health professionals consist of:

  • Opportunities to be nominated for commissions and advisory boards in the Federal government, private sector, and other national health professional associations.
  • Opportunities to mentor medical students and residents.
  • Discounts at the NHMA Annual Conference (where you can also earn CME credits).
  • Ability to apply for NHMA Leadership Fellowship and Resident Leadership Programs.
  • Opportunities to share your research either by being a speaker or poster presenter at our annual conference.
  • Network with other healthcare professionals at one of NHMA Regional Events.














Claudia Zamora
Dr. Nellie Correa
Our major benefits for students:

  • Opportunities to mentor college students
  • Discounts at the NHMA Annual Conference
  • Opportunities to share your research by being a poster presenter at our annual conference
  • Network with healthcare professionals at one of NHMA Regional Events and Annual Conference

Ways You Can Get Involved With NHMA:

Anyone that would like to advance NHMA's mission and goals is welcome to join our network as a Premier or Basic member. Click below to see our membership options:


If you have received an award or attended an event and would like to be featured in our monthly Membership Update, please contact communications@nhmamd.org by the first Friday of every month.
Featured Announcements
Join NHMA and Merck in Reflecting on American Diabetes Month

As American Diabetes Month comes to an end, we encourage you to continue to get involved and find ways to offer your support for the type 2 diabetes community. This year, we’re joining the effort through our work with Merck around their documentary, A Touch of Sugar . The film raises awareness of some of the health disparities and challenges faced by people living with type 2 diabetes, especially within the Hispanic community.
As many of you are aware, over their lifetime, more than 50% of Hispanic adults are expected to develop type 2 diabetes. Having support from medical professionals can make a big difference in helping them better manage the disease. We encourage everyone to watch the documentary and help us spread the word because the film can:

  • Inspire people living with type 2 diabetes, their loved ones and their health care providers to work together to make progress in managing the disease.
  • Raise awareness of how type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects certain groups, particularly the Hispanic and African-American communities.
  • Shed light on the seriousness of the disease and how many social conditions and factors can significantly impact type 2 diabetes management.
  • Ignite critical conversations around health disparities, barriers to treatment, access to care and the need for culturally relevant management tools to better support people with type 2 diabetes.
  • Educate people living with type 2 diabetes and their loved ones about the importance of A1C (average blood sugar over the past two to three months) goal attainment and individualized treatment plans.
  • Challenge the stigma associated with the disease and encourage people across the country to advocate on behalf of people with diabetes in their local communities.

Click to download Merck’s discussion guide in English and Spanish with further information about the film and type 2 diabetes, as well as questions to help you kickoff this important dialogue among your colleagues, families, friends and community.
To request a link to watch the documentary, please visit AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com and press the link at the top of the page that reads “Click Here to View A Touch of Sugar .” On the website, you will also be able to find educational materials and type 2 diabetes management resources in both English and Spanish. If you would like to secure copies of these materials for your patients, please email AmericasDiabetesChallenge@gcihealth.com .

And for those of you in the Rio Grande Valley area, we hope you can join us at the following upcoming event for a screening of a special edition of A Touch of Sugar addressing Hispanic health disparities in type 2 diabetes:

A Touch of Sugar  Screening – Rio Grande Valley
Thursday, December 5, 2019, 5:45 PM – 7:15 PM
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley- Edinburg Campus
1201 W University Dr, Edinburg, TX 78539


US-DIA-00808 (11/19)
Upcoming Events
Other Events:

NHMA Chapter Policy Forums:
Thursday, December 5, 2019 from 5:45 pm - 7:45 pm - Rio Grand Valley Chapter Policy Forum
and Reception


January 2020


NHMA 24th Annual Conference:
Thursday, April 30 - Sunday, May 3, 2020  at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park
Visit our website for more information: https://www.nhma-conf.com/.
Consider being a Speaker, Poster Presenter, participant in our Academic Development Session!

Virtual events:
December 2 at 4:00 PM ET:  Twitter chat for World AIDS Day
We ask that you consider making a $25 donation to help NHMA & NHHF touch the lives of health professionals in various stages of their career:

1) NHHF Health Professional Student Scholarship and Mentoring
2) NHMA Resident Leadership Program.
3) NHMA Leadership Fellowship

Join NHMA as a member and participate in our many programs and communications campaigns. Become our supporter!

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