Workshops and Presenters

Workshops at this year's conference are organized into four thematic streams, each reflecting a different dimension of the Filipino American physician's journey: Patungo sa Iyong Bituin (Professional Development), Liwanag ng Bituin (Storytelling), Konstelasyon ng Kapwa (Community Care), and Ginagabayan ng mga Bituin (Clinical Skills). Sessions span multiple workshop blocks throughout the weekend, so you can build your own experience across themes.

This page will be updated as new workshops and speakers are confirmed. Check back often.

Workshops
Presenters

Pre-Conference Sessions

Storytelling as Medicine: The First Star

Patrick Munar Ancheta (He/They/Siya)

Patricia Rose De Leon

This workshop explores storytelling as a form of cultural memory, connection, and healing. Though participants may begin as strangers, stories transform relationships rooted in pakikisama into communities grounded in pakikipagkapwa. Through sharing and listening, participants reflect on the stories they carry and discover how individual narratives can become collective medicine.

Kumustahan & Conversations

Natasha Abadilla Glenn, MD

Featuring Filipinx Americans residents, fellows, and attendings, interested in mentoring, advocacy, and clinical/translational/basic science research.

This interactive workshop aims to help pre-medical and medical trainees craft a compelling personal “about me” introduction they can confidently use to network within professional spaces and learn practical strategies to stay engaged during conferences/talks. We will start with quick tips for networking during professional events, then we will feature resident, fellow, and attending physicians as they quickly highlight their professional and research interests. Finally, the main portion of this workshop will be "speed networking" during which trainees can ask thoughtful questions and apply what they've learned to spark authentic connections with potential Filipinx American mentors in medicine.

Workshops

Workshop Stream 1 —
Patungo sa Iyong Bituin (“Towards Your Star”):
Charting Your Medical Journey

Every physician's journey begins with a vision of who they want to become. This track equips you with practical tools and strategic guidance to navigate critical transitions, from building competitive applications to reclaiming your identity in medicine to managing post-training finances. Whether you're just beginning or refining your path, these workshops help you chart your course with confidence and community support.

  • Randy Lizardo, MD, FACOG

    Introduction of the topic followed by brief small group discussions about how participants feel cultural expectations, family sacrifice, and the “utang na loob” mindset shape identity, influence career path and impact burnout for Filipinx Americans in medicine. Through reflection and guided discussion, participants will learn to separate self-worth from career and reconnect with purpose beyond professional roles. The session offers practical tools to reclaim autonomy, redefine success, and intentionally design a future aligned with participants values—not just their titles.

  • Roma Fe Mabanag, MD

    This interactive workshop provides a clear, step-by-step framework for approaching research from idea generation to execution, designed for participants at any training or experience level. Attendees will learn how to transform curiosity and lived experiences into feasible research questions, select appropriate study designs, and identify attainable next steps. Don’t miss the most exciting interactive live panel packed with exclusive insights, real stories, and practical advice from surprise guest speakers who have who have established their names as recognized leaders and trailblazers in medical research.

  • This didactic session provides practical guidance for medical school graduates and early-career physicians navigating complex financial decisions during the transition from training to practice. Topics include student loan repayment strategies, budgeting with resident/fellow salaries, building emergency funds, understanding benefits packages, beginning retirement planning, and making informed decisions about major purchases. The session emphasizes actionable strategies tailored to the unique financial realities of physicians in training and early practice.

  • Christopher Aquino, MD, MS

    This workshop explores the cultural, familial, and faith-based influences that shape the Filipinx American physician journey, including the realities of academic setbacks, nonlinear paths, and minority identity in medicine. Through personal narrative and evidence-informed concepts such as the arrival fallacy and hedonic treadmill, participants will examine why achievement alone does not guarantee fulfillment and how burnout can emerge even after success. Attendees will leave with practical, values-aligned strategies for sustainable happiness, wellness, and purpose in their careers and communities.

Workshop Stream 2 —
Liwanag ng Bituin (“Brilliance of the Star”):
Stories as Medicine

Our stories carry light that guides others through darkness. This track explores how narrative serves as healing, teaching, and community preservation for Filipino Americans navigating medicine. Through examining internalized pressures, cultural duality, and the transformative power of storytelling, we honor the brilliance that emerges when we share our truths with courage and vulnerability.

  • Monica Feliz R. Castillo, MD, MS

    Christopher T. Villongco, MD, MSCR

    This workshop will explore the unique mental health challenges faced in medicine, focusing on how Filipino/Filipinx and broader API cultural factors—such as stigma, familial expectations, and taboo—can impact wellness. Led by two Fil-Am psychiatrists trained in different regions of the country, attendees will learn key terminology and historical context around FilAms while engaging in an open discussion of mental health journeys through a Filipinx lens. Participants can expect a supportive, reflective space designed to foster self-awareness, resilience, and empowerment as they navigate their medical training and careers.

  • Bernice Ponce de Leon, DO

    Ever wondered why Fil-Am mental health is so complicated? Join us as we learn about mental health disparities in Filipino American populations, explore the conflicting expectations of Filipino and American culture, and learn about novel approaches to improving Fil-Am mental health.

  • Pat Lindsay "Pinky" C. Buscaino

    Cybil Joy Pallugna-Saenz

    Experience the power of storytelling as a tool for healing and clinical insight, presented in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society, Houston Chapter (FANHS-HTX). In this interactive workshop, you’ll write, share, and map Filipino personal and ancestral stories to the History of Present Illness (HPI), revealing how narrative shapes both understanding and care. Learn to listen like a storyteller and leave with skills that deepen empathy, sharpen diagnostic awareness, and honor the stories that connect us to our patients and our heritage.

  • Rodeo Abrencillo, MD

    Dr. Rodeo Abrencillo shares his arduous journey of becoming a physician and clinician-educator in a foreign land. As discoveries are rarely achieved in isolation, this session demonstrates how mentorship nurtures the development of professional and clinical skills throughout one's pursuit of medicine. By highlighting the roles of grit and gratitude, Dr. Abrencillo explores how Filipino American representation in medical leadership transforms the Filipino American community and impacts patient advocacy.

Workshop Stream 3 —
Konstelasyon ng Kapwa (“Shared Constellations”):
Charting Constellations of Shared Humanity

Individual stars become meaningful when we recognize their connections to one another. This track examines how community-centered care, health equity advocacy, and structural competency strengthen both our patients and profession. From policy navigation to migrant health to specialized clinical knowledge, these workshops ground clinical practice in the Filipino value of kapwa, recognizing that our well-being is inseparable from those we serve.

  • Frances Angela Torres Rodriguez

    Health policy shapes nearly every clinical decision, often in ways we don’t see until it affects a patient’s story. This workshop provides a clear, accessible overview of Medicare, Medicaid, and the current health policy landscape while centering equity, culture, and community impact. Participants will leave with a stronger framework for understanding policy and their role as clinicians, advocates, and future leaders.

  • Arcelita Imasa, MD

    At the end of the workshop, I hope for attendees to be able to: 1. Describe at least two ways immigration enforcement and fear of ICE impact migrants’ access to and experiences of healthcare in clinical and community settings. 2. Identify key legal and ethical principles that guide provider responses when immigration authorities appear in or around healthcare facilities, including strategies to protect patient privacy and safety. 3. Reflect on their own migration, family, or training stories and articulate how these narratives can inform compassionate, trauma‑informed care for migrant patients. 4. Develop an actionable micro‑advocacy plan (e.g., clinic policy, know‑your‑rights resource, institutional protocol, or learner‑led initiative) to advance equitable care for migrants in their home institutions and workplaces.

  • Karen Thursday S. Tuano, MD

    This talk will review the clinical presentation of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease (EGID) in pediatric patients across different age groups and highlight key features that should raise suspicion for the diagnosis. It will outline a step-wise, evidence-based approach to diagnosing EGID, including differential diagnosis and appropriate use of testing. Finally, it will summarize current management strategies and treatment options to guide effective care.

  • James Pattarini, MD, MPH, FAsMA

    As Program Medical Officer for NASA’s Artemis Human Landing System, Dr. James Pattarini leads an overview of operational space medicine, its utilization in NASA, and insight to the clinical management of unique physiological challenges experienced in microgravity. As an Internist, his expertise and experience focuses on the longitudinal management of medical risk, allowing space crews to travel farther and stay longer. A dual-board-certified physician in Internal and Aerospace Medicine with experience ranging from the International Space Station to Antarctica, Dr. Pattarini offers a unique look at the intersection of clinical excellence and the engineering required to sustain life at the edge of the final frontier. For aspiring physicians and seasoned practitioners alike, this session invites you to think boldly about the reach and impact of a career in medicine.

Workshop Stream 4:
Ginagabayan ng mga Bituin (“Guided by the Stars”):
Hands-on Clinical Mastery

For generations, travelers have navigated by starlight, trusting patterns established by those who came before. This track offers hands-on clinical skills training where expert clinician-educators guide you through foundational and advanced techniques. From physical exam mastery to procedural confidence, these workshops honor the mentorship tradition where knowledge passes from one pair of skilled hands to the next.

  • Natasha Abadilla Glenn, MD

    Christopher Bautista Aquino, MD

    The brain is the most complex and mysterious organ: a network of cells and electricity creating every thought, feeling, and movement that make us human. It's no wonder neurologic complaints can feel daunting for any healthcare provider! In this interactive workshop, we’ll simplify the neuro exam, cover essentials of neuroimaging, and show how the two connect using common clinical cases. No matter your training or career level, you’ll leave with practical tools and more confidence to tackle the next neuro challenge that comes your way.

  • Catherine “Trina” Salva, MD, MSEd

    Neil Wingkun, MD, MPH, FACEP

    This hands-on clinical skills workshop introduces foundational suturing techniques for learners beginning their journey in medicine. Designed for pre-medical students, early trainees, and anyone seeking a refresher on core principles, participants will practice basic instrument handling, knot-tying methods, and simple interrupted suture placement using simulation equipment. No prior suturing experience required.

  • Manuel De La Rosa, Jr., MD

    Ashlee Joan Macalino, MD

    "Mula sa kamay, hanggang sa karunungan" (From the hands to wisdom) explores the clinician-educator's art of teaching the physical exam to multi-level learners. In this interactive, hands-on workshop, we will review a systematic approach to the physical exam, use hypothesis-driven techniques to hone clinical reasoning skills, and integrate foundational anatomy and pathophysiology with radiographic and lab data through guided instruction and clinical vignettes in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. In an age of cutting-edge diagnostics and genomics, the physical exam remains a core source of information and learning.

  • Manuel De La Rosa, Jr., MD

    Ashlee Joan Macalino, MD

    "Mula sa kamay, hanggang sa karunungan" (From the hands to wisdom) explores the clinician-educator's art of teaching the physical exam to multi-level learners. In this interactive, hands-on workshop, we will review a systematic approach to the physical exam, use hypothesis-driven techniques to hone clinical reasoning skills, and integrate foundational anatomy and pathophysiology with radiographic and lab data through guided instruction and clinical vignettes in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. In an age of cutting-edge diagnostics and genomics, the physical exam remains a core source of information and learning.

Accreditation Statement

♦︎ The denoted activity can be claimed for Continuing Education hours/credits.

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Pinnacle Conference, LLC and CYFAM. Pinnacle Conference, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This activity is accredited for 1 CE hour with the following institutions:

  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, AMA PRA Category 1™
  • Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, ACPE CPE
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center, ANCC NCPD (CNE)
  • American Academy of PAs, AAPA Category 1
  • American Dental Association, ADA-CERP CDE
  • American Psychological Association, APA CE
  • Association of Social Work Boards, ASWB-ACE
  • Commission on Dietetic Registration, CDR CPE
  • Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer, BOC CEUs

Workshop Presenters

  • Rodeo Abrencillo, MD

    University of Texas Health Houston/ McGovern Medical School

    Memorial Hermann Hospital TMC

    Associate Professor Department of Internal Medicine/Division of Critical Care, Pulmonary, and Sleep Medicine

    Medical Director of Clinics of Interstitial Lung Disease

    Medical Director of Pulmonary Fibrosis Care Center Network in UTHealth Houston

    PCCSM Division Vice Chief of Research

  • Patrick Munar Ancheta (He/They/Siya)

    Internal Medicine Resident, Huntington Memorial Hospital

  • Christopher Aquino, MD, MS

    Neuroradiology Chief, Regional MRI Safety Physician Director, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego

  • Pat Lindsay "Pinky" C. Buscaino, Ed.D.

    Filipino American National Historical Society – Houston Chapter (FANHS-HTX)

    Kuwento Co

  • John G. Byrne, MD

    Cardiothoracic Surgeon

    Trustee, Texas Heart Institute

    Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

  • Monica Feliz R. Castillo, MD, MS

    Fellow Physician, New York Presbyterian Hospitals- Cornell University and Columbia University

  • Walter B. Clarkson Jr., MBA

    Tax & Financial Expert, Clarkson & Associates, LLC

  • Manuel De La Rosa, Jr., MD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine and Hospitalist - Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University

  • Patricia Rose De Leon

    University of California Los Angeles

  • Natasha Abadilla Glenn, MD

    Resident Physician - Child Neurology, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford Medicine

  • Arcelita Imasa, MD

    Associate Clinical Professor, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine

    Board Secretary, Hawaii Workers Center

    National Council Member, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns

    Board Member, University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Hawaii

  • Randy Lizardo, MD, FACOG

    Minimally-Invasive Gynecological Surgeon, Capital Women's Care

    Clinical Professor, George Washington University

  • Roma Fe Mabanag, MD

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Orthopaedics Biomechanics Laboratory

  • Ashlee Joan Macalino, MD

    Resident Physician - Child Neurology, Stanford Health Care

  • Cybil Joy Pallugna-Saenz

    Filipino American National Historical Society – Houston Chapter (FANHS-HTX)

  • Bernice Ponce de Leon, DO

    YourStory Psychiatry

  • James Pattarini, MD, MPH, FAsMA

    Flight Surgeon and Program Medical Officer, Artemis Human Landing System, Lunar Gateway, NASA Johnson Space Center

  • Frances Angela Torres Rodriguez

    Tayo Help Desk/Filipino Young Leader's Program, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

  • Catherine “Trina” Salva, MD, MSEd

    Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Vice Chair of Education, Yale School of Medicine

  • Karen Thursday S. Tuano, MD

    Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Immunology, Allergy and Retrovirology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital

  • Blessy A. Varughese, DO, MPH

    Residency Program Director

    Endocrinologist & Assistant Clerkship Director, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

  • Christopher T. Villongco, MD, MSCR

    Assistant Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine

  • Neil Wingkun, MD, MPH, FACEP

    Emergency Physician, Houston Methodist