The annual Day of the Dead Pre-Med conference brought more than 120 aspiring pre-health students from Utah and Idaho for a day of mentorship, skill-building workshops, networking, and cultural celebration.
Celebrating Culture and Community: Day of the Dead Pre-Med Conference Inspires Future Healthcare Professionals
The Office of Academic Culture and Community, in partnership with the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) hosted its annual Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos Pre-Med Conference on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Over 120 pre-med and pre-health students from across Utah and Idaho gathered at the Eccles Health Sciences Education Building for a day of learning, mentorship, and cultural celebration.
The conference aims to inspire and prepare students to pursue careers in medicine, provide insight into the medical school application process, and break down barriers along the pre-medical/pre-physician assistant pathway, including limited access to mentorship, reduced sense of belonging, and a lack of representative role models.
"The Día de los Muertos Pre-Medical Conference is more than an event - it’s a celebration of culture, community, and the future of medicine. By honoring tradition while empowering aspiring physicians, we’re creating a space where students from all backgrounds can see themselves in this profession and feel supported on their journey, " says Dr. Paloma Cariello, Associate Dean of Academic Culture and Community.
The day-long program featured networking opportunities, skill-building workshops focused on MD/PA school admissions, and hands-on experiences such as ultrasound workshops and anatomy lab tours. MD and PA student volunteers led an interactive panel, providing attendees with practical insights into their future careers.
Speakers from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine representing admissions, Physician Assistant program, student affairs, and others, shared valuable information about the admissions process and how to cultivate mentorship. Dr. Michelle Hofmann, Interim Senior Associate Dean, of the Southern Utah Regional Medical Campus, shared exciting updates highlighting expanded opportunities for students interested in serving rural communities.
The conference's keynote address was delivered by Dr. Alejandro Sanchez, whose inspiring journey from Cali, Colombia to Harvard Medical School captivated attendees. Dr. Sanchez, who now conducts impactful work in urologic oncology at SFESOM and Huntsman Cancer Institute, shared insights from his personal and professional path, emphasizing the importance of his backgrounds impact on his journey in medicine.
The Latino Medical Students Association, which has been collaborating with OACC to plan the event, reflected on the significance of the ofrenda and the conference. "The ofrenda is a beautiful reminder that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. As aspiring physicians, we honor their sacrifices by continuing their legacy of caring for our communities.
For many of us, becoming a doctor isn’t just a career goal — it’s a way to give back to the communities that raised us," adds Olivia Rodriguez, current third-year medical student and co-president of LMSA.
Since 2013, the conference has been held annually, with steady increases in participation, engagement, and cross-unit collaboration. Data tracking conference attendees who subsequently applied to the SFESOM demonstrate the event's measurable impact. From 2023-2024 to 2024-2025, medical school applicants who attended the conference doubled, with parallel increases in admission interviews (+43%), offers (+40%), and matriculants (+50%) of event attendees.
The Day of the Dead cultural framework creates a space for community and belonging that resonates deeply with students. Post-conference surveys consistently report high satisfaction with mentorship opportunities, exposure to medical school settings, and likelihood to pursue a career in healthcare. Of the 73 post-survey responses received so far, 78.9% rated the event as excellent and 16.9% as very good overall. Nearly 60% of attendees reported having several opportunities to network with medical students and professionals. Following the event, 34.2% of participants felt very confident in their ability to navigate the medical school application process, while 53.4% felt somewhat confident. Significantly, 59 of 73 respondents indicated that the event positively impacted their likelihood of pursuing a career in healthcare.
"It was so fun learning to use ultrasound to visualize my own carotid artery! It was really inspiring to hear both the students' and faculty's stories about their pathways into medicine and their enthusiasm for the University of Utah School of Medicine,” says a conference attendee.
“Talking to current students and staff reaffirmed how much I would love to be part of this community.” The success of the event over the years has led to an abstract highlighting the program's outcomes being recently accepted for presentation at the 2026 AAMC GSA-GCEC-OSR Joint National Meeting in Orlando, Florida, recognizing the event as a replicable model for advancing learner support in academic medicine.
The Office of Academic Culture and Community's ongoing commitment to creating pathways into medicine demonstrates its commitment to creating a welcoming and respectful environment in academic medicine for people from all backgrounds. Conferences like Día de los Muertos are helping to fulfill the mission to actively recruit and fully foster the development of a workforce that reflects our communities.
