AAMC conference session: 2021 Vilcek-Gold Award | Breaking More Barriers, Together

2021 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare recipients Dr. Jirayut “New” Latthivongskorn and Dr. Denisse Rojas Marquez will lead a session at the AAMC Learn Serve Lead 2021 conference on Tuesday, November 9, at 2:15 p.m. ET.

In this session, Drs. Rojas Marquez and Latthivongskorn will share their commitment to humanism, and discuss stories from their work in supporting immigrant students and patients. They will also be presented with the 2021 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare by Jan T. Vilcek, MD, PhD, chairman and CEO of the Vilcek Foundation; David J. Skorton, MD, president and CEO of the AAMC; and Richard I. Levin, MD, president and CEO of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. The award honors an immigrant professional who has made extraordinary contributions to humanism in healthcare.

Denisse Rojas Marquez, MD, MPP and Jirayut Latthivongskorn, MD, MPH — also known as “Dr. New” — are first-generation immigrants, physicians, and advocates for health justice and education equity. Growing up as undocumented immigrants in the U.S., both experienced barriers that many immigrant families face in accessing and navigating health care systems.

Dr. Rojas Marquez and Dr. Latthivongskorn’s experiences inspired them to become doctors, to improve health for all marginalized communities, through direct patient care and shaping policies.  Both Dr. Rojas Marquez and Dr. Latthivongskorn are co-founders and current board members of Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD), a nonprofit organization that supports undocumented immigrant students who are interested in health professions. As a national network with peer-to-peer mentorship, PHD members build community, share resources, and advocate for increased education access while pursuing their professional goals.

The pair are also known for their advocacy in support of the rights of undocumented immigrants and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients in the United States. Dr. Rojas Marquez has testified in the U.S. Congress, and Dr. Latthivongskorn has served as a plaintiff in the lawsuit to defend the DACA program at the Supreme Court, along with meeting President Biden to urge passage of immigration legislation. For their work with PHD and their advocacy, Drs. Rojas Marquez and Latthivongskorn were recognized by Forbes magazine in the publication’s “30 Under 30” list of influential entrepreneurs in education.

This session is limited to conference attendees.  Learn more and register here.