Diabetes is one of the top killers in Mexico. Many Mexican citizens do not even know they are living with the disease. It is therefore vital for doctors and healthcare providers in Mexico to be educated about the types of diabetes, how to diagnose, treatment options, and lifestyle modifications. This will hopefully lower diabetes rates and increase the health and quality of life of Mexicans, especially in vulnerable and impoverished populations who are most at risk of acquiring the condition. To contribute to the continued education of Mexican physicians, the 2023 OMI MEX Columbia University Seminar in Diabetes was held from May 15-17, 2023, in Mexico City.
22 participants from seven states of Mexico, including Coahuila, Baja California Norte, Michoacán, Chiapas, Mexico State, Mexico City, and Tlaxcala, were present at the seminar. Dr. Robin S. Goland, Co-Director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center and J. Merrill Eastman Professor of Clinical Diabetes at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, led the seminar. Dr. Magdalena Bogun and Dr. Rachelle Gandica, physicians from Columbia University, as well as Dr. Cristina García-Ulloa, an internist, endocrinologist, and obesity specialist from the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) in Mexico, served as faculty members.
12 informative lectures were presented by the faculty, including topics such as Epidemiology of Diabetes in Mexico and Globally, Pathophysiology of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, Pediatric Diabetes, Noninsulin Therapy and Insulin Therapy, Diabetes Complications, and more. The faculty also shared a series of clinical cases from their personal work experience, which provided in-depth insight for the fellows. Monday and Tuesday afternoon hosted fellows’ case presentations, in which eight cases were presented that focused on the fellows’ work experience. The faculty selected two excellent cases, in which these participants were acknowledged with a special certificate.
The three-day course concluded with the post-seminar test, a relaxing lunch among the faculty members, and the award ceremony, in which fellows received certificates for their participation and acknowledgement of academic excellence and outstanding case presentations. The OMI MEX diabetes cohort was honored to have Dr. David Kershenobich, former Director General of the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), who specializes in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and is one of the most prestigious medical doctors in Mexico, at the seminar’s award ceremony. Education about diabetes is of the utmost importance in Mexico, and we are grateful to the OMI faculty and AMSA for the collaboration that made this seminar possible!
