Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Months and Celebrations
Each fall, the KU Medical Center community commemorates Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month with a series of educational events and discussions. Learn more about how to get involved.
Events and Programs
Jayhawk Coffee Break
September 10, 8:30-9:30 a.m. | School of Nursing 1st Floor Walkway
As we kick off Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, we invite you to join us during the Jayhawk Coffee Break. Learn about upcoming events and connect with members of the Hispanic and Latinx community at KU Medical Center. Enjoy a selection of coffee and tea as we gather to celebrate. We look forward to seeing you there.
Cultural Celebration and Presentation
September 25, 4-6 p.m.
Join us for a vibrant cultural celebration hosted by the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Hispanic and Latinx Cultural Food Presentation and Demonstration
October 4, 9-11:30 a.m.
🎧 Please note: We experienced some audio issues during this recording.
Past Event Information
Events and Programs
Garden Tour
September 22, noon-1 p.m.
Join us for a special presentation and garden tour by KU Medical Center’s Landscape Services team celebrating diversity and highlighting native plant species connected to Latin American culture. We will meet at the front entrance of the Olathe Pavilion across from the Olathe Parking Garage.
Keynote Presentation
September 28, noon-1 p.m.
Join us as we hear from KU alumna and award-winning author Angela Cervantes. Angela’s fun, interactive presentation will take us along her journey from bookworm to published author, with a focus on “The Power of Our Stories.” Angela explores how her heritage inspires her work and other themes like resiliency, creativity, and the many lessons she’s learned as a published author. The event will include a special giveaway of five copies of Angela’s book.
Cultural Celebration
October 12, 4-6 p.m. | HEB Courtyard
In honor of Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, we invite you to attend a family-friendly celebration with food, festivities and fun! All are welcome to attend this event, but we ask that you pre-register by October 9 to ensure we have enough food for all. In the event of bad weather, the Cultural Celebration will take place in the Ad Astra room of the Health Education Building. Sponsored by the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Biographical Spotlights
September 15 – October 15
Learn about the backgrounds and careers of several Hispanic and Latinx learners, faculty, trainees and staff, as well as their journeys to KU Medical Center. Community members' stories are available online throughout the month. View the spotlights online or follow KU Medical Center Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on social media ( ) for stories and photos all month long.
Jayhawk Coffee Break
September 14 | 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Join us during a special Jayhawk Coffee Break for the opportunity to connect with your Hispanic and Latinx colleagues. This coffee break will highlight the faculty, staff and learners featured in the Hispanic and Latinx Heritage month biographical spotlights.
Clinical Culture and Diversity Series
September 20 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Join us for a special presentation by David X. Marquez, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago. The Clinical Culture and Diversity Series explores issues related to intercultural communication in the clinical setting.
Cultural Celebration
September 29 | 4 – 6 p.m.
This special celebratory event will honor Hispanic and Latinx cultures. Save the date, more information to follow.
Hispanic & Latinx Education, Service and Research Day
October 13 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Presentations will highlight research focused on Hispanic and Latinx communities or research conducted by KU Medical Center's Hispanic and Latinx faculty, staff, students and community partners. A keynote panel featuring local Hispanic and Latinx serving and led non-profit organizations will follow digital presentations.
View all videos on YouTube or watch the playlist below.
Spotlights: KU Medical Center Community Member Biographies
Learn about the background and careers of several Hispanic and Latinx learners, staff and faculty, as well as their journey to The University of Kansas Medical Center.
Jayhawk Coffee Break
A special Jayhawk Coffee Break to connect with Hispanic and Latinx colleagues and community allies. This coffee break highlighted the learners, staff and faculty featured on the Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month biographical posters. View recording on YouTube.
Clinical Culture and Diversity Series
September 21, 2021
A special presentation by José Faus on "Cambarion Mi Nombre/They Changed my Name." The Clinical Culture and Diversity Series explores issues related to intercultural communication in the clinical setting. View recording on YouTube.
Community Conversation with Carrie Gibson
Author of El Norte: The Epic and Forgotten Story of Hispanic America
September 23, 2021
Carrie Gibson explains with great depth and clarity in El Norte that the nation has much older Spanish roots-ones that have long been unacknowledged or marginalized. This talk will focus on the 'forgotten' Hispanic past of the United States, which spans the 1500s to the present, and discuss the connection of this long history to contemporary inequalities in a range of areas, including health, for the wider Hispanic and Latinx communities.
Research Day
October 14, 2021
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Research day presentations will highlight research focused on Hispanic and Latinx communities or research conducted by Hispanic and Latinx learners, staff and faculty. A keynote address delivered by Dr. Adolfo G. Cuevas, Assistant Professor, community psychologist, and Director of the Psychosocial Determinators of Health Lab at Tufts University, will follow digital presentations.
View recordings of our 2020 events below or on YouTube
September 15: Ideal Conversations
Student discussion: "What is it like to be a Latinx/Hispanic Student in the Medical Field?"
September 23: Jayhawk Coffee Break
Kick-off of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, mingling with colleagues and enjoying a morning cup.
September 24: Community Conversation: Culture Hour-Latin@ vs. Latinx and Hispanic/Latino
Is it Latino, Latina, Latinx or Hispanic? Hear from members of the Latino Medical Student Association about the meaning of these words.
September 29: Community Conversation: COVID-19 and the Latinx Population
Get an update on local efforts to address health disparities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Presented by Dr. Allen Greiner and Mariana RamĂrez.
October 1: Film Discussion: Black in Latin America: Haiti and The Dominican Republic- The Roots of Division
The first episode of the Black in Latin America series explores race and identity in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Follow-up panel discussion moderated by KU film faculty member, Dr. Tamara Falicov Professor, Department of Film and Media Studies, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, University of Kansas
October 6: Community Conversation: Crucial Conversations- "But really, where are you from?"
Unconscious bias and Microaggressions in academia and healthcare. A casual conversation with Latinxs students, staff, and faculty about their own experiences around microaggressions in academia and healthcare contexts.
October 14: Research Day, Keynote & Roundtable
Research Day is a full-day event to highlight the work of scholars, researchers, and community stakeholders who are leading the way in health and social issues of Latinx communities in the US and Latin America with the goal of supporting a diverse scientific workforce, improving awareness of significant health disparities, and developing research collaborations.
Keynote address by Dr. Eliseo J. PĂ©rez-Stable, Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities