Lilia Cervantes
@Cervantes_Lily1
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MD | Professor @CUDeptMed |#immigrant| 🇲🇽Latinx | Colorado | #healthjustice| #Kidneyhealth| community-partnership /avid runner
Denver, Colorado
Joined March 2016
1/14.Meet Hilda. I was one of her doctors. When she died, she left 2 sons behind. My grief about her situation brought anger and then determination. A #tweetorial on outcomes, advocacy, and policy in dialysis access for undocumented immigrants. #medtwitter #nephtwitter #NSMC
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Promoted to Professor!.Appreciate everyone who has walked with me on this journey. Tomando tiempo para celebrar!
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Tenured!! .Celebrating with my daughter in Baltimore ❤️
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WOOHOO! We are funded! So humbled! Just received our NOA for our U01 !!! Excited to work with a consortium to address structural racism to reduce kidney health disparities! #healthdisparities #KidneyDisease . My journey to research & healthcare policy change has been one with
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It is with happy tears that I share some incredible news! As of 9-1-18, non-citizen patients will have access to standard outpatient dialysis! ESRD will be included in the definition of "emergency medical condition" in Co!@medicalaxioms @Peralta_KHRC @DrDeidraCrews @allisontong1.
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I'm incredibly honored & humbled to receive @SocietyHospMed prestigious award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership. So excited to continue this fight for #healthjustice. #SHMConverge #healthequity .@CUMedicalSchool @CUDeptMedicine @DenverHealthMed @CCTSI
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You're looking at one of the newest members of @the_asci ! I'm honored among these other amazing individuals!. Deep gratitude for the patients that inspired a research career and the amazing team that nominated me-@Neil_R_Powe @DrDeidraCrews @EbonyBoulware @vineet_chopra
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🩷Today, I ran a half marathon under beautiful fall colors in Denver. I will miss running for the next few weeks. As healthcare providers it's often hard to find time for self-care, myself included. I am having a surgery this week to prevent breast cancer, a choice I put off
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I never imagined…this girl who grew up in poverty from 🇲🇽 & w/English as a second language. Never EVER imagined…in a Super Bowl commercial. Thank you @CUAnschutz for highlighting our awesome campus!.
Did I just see @Cervantes_Lily1 on a SuperBowl commercial for @CUAnschutz University of Colorado?! What a boss! I can’t think of a more deserving person—She changed laws to permit us to care for Coloradans most in need. #MedTwitter @CUMedicalSchool @CUDivHospMed @CUDeptMedicine.
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Deeply grateful for the thoughtful award (painted by Denver artist Arlette Lucero) & beautiful reception from @COHealthFDN & @KeriAnnJo . I received the Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award for our work to improve access to care for undocumented immigrants 😍
Thanks to everyone who joined us in celebrating @Cervantes_Lily1, recipient of the 2021 Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award, earlier this week! @KarenMsquared #COHealth
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Hilda inspired me to use research to change the way dialysis is done in Colorado for undocumented immigrants. Dialysis in the Undocumented: Driving Policy Change with Data
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The frightening reality at my daughters school. At many schools across the country. So angry. No words. We will change this. #GunLawsSaveLives .@abbeywinter1 @MomsDemand
“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills.” - Gracie Taub, co-lead for Denver East High School Students Demand Action.
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PUBLISHED TODAY .Read our paper & learn about how the experiences of #Latinx with COVID-19 before, during, & after hospitalization in Denver & SF can inform local & national interventions. @MarleneMartinMD @Neil_R_Powe @AliciaFMD @allisontong1 .
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So much joy! HB22-1289 was signed today!!! .#CoverAllColoradans! . “Expanding health-care coverage to all children, pregnant & postpartum people, regardless of immigration status, is fundamental to correcting the root causes of health inequities” @SerenaForCO .#SiSePuede
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14/14.We are only as healthy as the most vulnerable among us. Today, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, undocumented immigrants continue to receive emergency dialysis in many states. This increases unnecessary exposure + use valuable ED resources.
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Dr. Bernard Lown said “How can I be a doctor and close my eyes to this overwhelming reality.” . It’s time to defy the status quo. It’s time to demand and to create change. All people, regardless of immigration status, should have sustainable, high quality, access to healthcare.
Congratulations to Dr. @Cervantes_Lily1 on being awarded the 2024 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility! Your dedication to medicine and social justice is an inspiration to all! 💙🎉 #medicine #socialjustice #DEIJ
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This is devastating. As a parent of an East HS student we must ALL engage in advocacy and change this. Our students are courageously engaging legislators at the capital, talking to media, and raising awareness on the streets. @MomsDemand @StudentsDemand @abbeywinter1.
In the aftermath of the shooting that injured two administrators at Denver's East High School, students from East and West high schools, along with parents, faculty and staff walked to the state Capitol building to demand lawmakers take action to make schools safer.
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1/Three years ago today, our state Medicaid agency expanded access to dialysis for undocumented immigrants and. 💰saved the state millions .⭐️reduced mortality.🎖️improve quality of life. If undocumented immigrants continue to rely on emergency dialysis in your state, read on. .
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Excited to share a special study that inspired camaraderie, community organizing, and changed healthcare policy in Colorado @JAMANetwork . My dear friend and patient Hilda died in 2014. A few years later, we developed a peer support group for undocumented immigrants with kidney
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Sure, Trump thinks immigrants are a problem, but as a physician and researcher with immigrant parents, I know the real problems are access to healthcare, social justice issues, & “concepts of plans.” #WeAreImmigrants
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Last night, my research journey reached an unforgettable milestone—the launch of HEAL: Health Equity and Advocacy Lab! ❤️ I never imagined I’d be leading such a brilliant/passionate team. This is a movement to reshape healthcare and fight for equity. This is only the beginning.
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Incredible persistence from @StudentsDemand & teachers at East High School. Today, they celebrate 4 Colorado bills signed into law yesterday and meet at the capitol to demand cont’d action & accountability. “we are not done”. #GunLawsSaveLives @MomsDemand @abbeywinter1
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Excited to share our Kidney International manuscript w/ .@Neil_R_Powe and @allisontong1 looking at patient reported outcomes (QOL & symptoms) & experiences of undocumented immigrants who transition from emergency to standard dialysis. @ASNAdvocacy .
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Muchas gracias a mi familia y amigos!!! So excited to be inducted into @the_asci !!! Grateful to everyone that has walked this journey with me! @CUDeptMedicine @CUDivHospMed.
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Wow! Inspired beyond words! Standing room only after @gradydoctor ‘s brilliant presentation @CUMedicalSchool In awe of you. Thank you for everything you do!
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Spring Tulips !!! Fields of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths in Amsterdam!
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Grateful to all the people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, from concept to delivery of #CovidVaccine . Vaccinated today for my community #SiSePuede #Familia . Trust science. We are all in this together. #righttobarearms
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🏆 Feeling incredibly honored to receive the @LownInstitute Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility. This recognition belongs to all of us— to every patient, mentor, and colleague who's been part of my journey. Here's to continuing our work to advance #HealthJustice for.
Announcing the winner of the 2024 Bernard Lown Award for Social Responsibility: @Cervantes_Lily1 . Dr. Cervantes was selected for her exceptional work advancing health equity and expanding access to care for undocumented immigrants.
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Feliz Año Nuevo. Grateful—one year ago today, I survived a crazy car accident & decided I would always live in the moment. Sharing some photos that capture 2 of my favorite moments this week in Iceland.
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12/14.States can define what constitutes an emergency medical condition. On Feb 1, 2019, guided by our research, Colorado Medicaid opted to include kidney failure in the definition of an ‘emergency medical condition’ expanding access to scheduled dialysis to the uninsured.
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Within 38 hours of going live, OmniSalud, a program that provides undocumented Coloradans with private health insurance, filled all 11,000 spots! INCREDIBLE ❤️ ! Deep gratitude to @C4HCO, the amazing people and organizations that advocated for this program, as well as the trusted
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NEW publication alert 👏. Qualitative study--we examined experiences of transplant among transplant recipients of undocumented immigrant status who previous relied on emergency dialysis. Led by @katierizzolo @gatoclau71 & others.@CUMedicalSchool @CUDeptMedicine @CU_Kidney.
⭐️New pub⭐️.Undocumented people are restricted from federal insurance options, which make quality care difficult to access for those with kidney failure, including transplantation. 1/11 @JAMANetworkOpen @Cervantes_Lily1 @gatoclau71 .
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One of my favorite times of the year. Preparation for ‘Dia de los Muertos’ We honor those who have passed & prepare colorful flowers, sugar skulls & pan de muerto in prep for tomorrow. @LatinasInMed @LMSA_Midwest @cjangerhofer @lorenaramren @MarleneMartinMD
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Really excited to share my Big Idea Talk—a Ted style talk about how I faced moral distress from a cruel and unjust law/policy and how I partnered with others to change a law that was killing my patients. @RWJF @CSPfellows . #MedTwitter.
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Graduated from the transformative Clinical Scholars RWJF Program this week! . Deeply grateful for 3 years of leadership development, friendships with community-partnered and equity-focused peers, and support @CSPfellows @UNC @RWJF @SallieG22
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Honored to participate on a panel with United States Secretary of Health and Human Service, @SecBecerra and Governor @jaredpolis to discuss healthcare policy and health equity. It was an insightful event hosted by @Tepeyac_Health . Feeling inspired and excited to catalyze health
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Brilliant women & role models at #NKFClinicals 🔥🔥🔥. La @nkf presidenta Dr. @sylviaerosas 🎉 . Excellence in Kidney Transplantation Award to @tpurnell1908 🎉 . Garabed Eknoyan Award to @Delgadockdny 🎉 . #NKFClinicals possible because of magic/hard work @JCannonNKF ❤️
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Appreciative of my mentors who encouraged me to create a fun title/logo for our study. Really happy with the result. Shout out to @Nephro_Sparks for guidance on creating it.
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Providing standard dialysis over emergency dialysis saves the state millions of dollars--In Colorado, the cost of emergency dialysis was 8-fold greater. From NOLA--“We are poor people,” said Deras. holding signs that pled for continued treatments. “But we are human beings.”
UMC will close a program for undocumented dialysis patients. After initially saying it would end in a month, the hospital said this afternoon, after protests, petitions and inquiries, that they would continue treatment until they come up with a plan.
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4/.Patient: "I didn't think this was real. My family told me this wasn't real.". **I hold her hand. More tears***. Misinformation & disinformation is real. While burnout & exhaustion from this long road is real for us as clinicians, we must dig deep and have compassion.
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Thank you CPR for highlighting this work! Colorado Changed Its Rules So Undocumented People Can Get Regular Dialysis. It’s Saved Lives and Dollars
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So proud—Qualitative study from Drs. Ram, Simpson, Manisha & Katya: “Experiences of undocumented immigrants w/hematologic cancer who cannot access hematopoietic stem cell transplant”. “If I had money, I would live. It’s hard when you see human life reduced to this”.@SocietyGIM
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Happy #worldkidneyday2022 .Excited for the domino effect this work has had throughout the country!.Eliminating #structuralracism 4 undocumented with kidney failure! Shout out 2 @katierizzolo @tessa_novick @v_valbuen @priti899 @JMTeakell @FlorAlvaradoMD @mattysincs @zapantera.
Determined to give kidney failure patients across Colorado equal access to standard dialysis, @Cervantes_Lily1 and her research team led a major change in the state’s health policy. Now she’s taking her work nationwide. #WorldKidneyDay | @RWJF
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Excited for NKF and @ASNKidney lead on letter supporting access to care for undoc immigrants with kidney failure! .Several signatories have already joined in support @RPANephrology @SocietyGIM @SHMAdvocacy and many more! #kidney #medtwitter .ARTICLE:
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I feel angry and scared. Every day, Bella goes to school and I don’t know if she will come home. An East HS student was shot in front of school & died. Students are leaning in—protesting, talking to legislators & reporters, posting on social media. #GunControlNow
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🤣 my daughter made this video and sent it to me after hearing I was having a long day 🤣
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Hilda gifted everything she had before stopping emergency dialysis & this orchid, now flowering, was from her. On days like today, I am reminded of all the justice work she inspired despite the challenges in 2018’ and 2019’ Lets continue justice-focused work ❤️
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8/14.We found that emergency dialysis is hard on clinicians too:. Led to burnout due to:.- witnessing needless suffering & high mortality.- moral distress because care is reflective of immigration status.
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Woohoo! Presented my final to my committee for my Master of Science in Clinical Science this morning! Thank you to amazing mentors, @gatoclau71, peers, and mentees for this incredible social and health justice research journey! @michelchonchol @katierizzolo @Neil_R_Powe @HAMFDP
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So honored to receive the annual Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award! Excited to continue my passion in the light of Dr. Licona's legacy!. Thank you @COHealthFDN and all of my patient and partner stakeholders for being part of this journey!.
🏆 Join us in celebration of Dr. Lilia Cervantes’ as the 2021 Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award recipient! 🏆 Thank you for your tireless fight to advance health and health equity, @Cervantes_Lily1. #COHealth
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Throwback to my very first grand rounds presentation. Thank you @Peralta_KHRC 💛 for taking me under your wing & for inviting me to present @ZSFGCare . Every person in this picture has been a friend & mentor 🤩 @Neil_R_Powe @AliciaFMD @thenephrologist & Lenny Lopez!.
Dr. Lilia Cervantes from Denver Health educated us at ZSFG Medicine Grand Rounds on health disparities in immigrants with kidney disease.
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6/14.We began research. Compared to undocumented immigrants that received scheduled 3x/wk dialysis, those receiving emergency dialysis have a:. Mortality that is 5-fold worse at 1 yr: . Mortality that is 14-fold worse at 5 yrs: .
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Interview with CNN Sanjay Gupta - Undocumented immigrants on dialysis forced to cheat death every week @CNN @medicalaxioms @Peralta_KHRC @DrDeidraCrews @allisontong1.
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Huge congrats to all the @ASNKidney mid-career #KidneyWk @GolestanehLadan - clinical service @CharuThakar - leader @ssfarouk - educator ⭐️
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New publication ⭐️.Undocumented immigrants face many transplant barriers. In @AJKDonline, @katierizzolo, Dr. Klassen, & I review & provide clarity around OPTN guidelines/policies as they relate to undocumented immigrants & transplant equity #NephTwitter .
Organ Procurement and Transplant Equity Among US Residents: The 5% Guideline. (FREE). @Cervantes_Lily1 @katierizzolo @CU_Kidney. #kidneytransplant
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Inspired by @DrDeidraCrews. visit to Colorado for Collins lectureship! ❤️ Powerful presentations on #kidney #disparities for nephrology & medicine grand rounds. Such a joy to be in-person for this awesome visit.
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Grateful to be featured in @acphospitalist today. The inequities experienced by #undocumented #immigrants .with #kidney disease who rely on emergency dialysis are enormous -- greater mortality, symptom burden, and poor quality of life. We must do better.
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I am so honored to be a speaker for @JHUWelchCenter 's Grand Rounds! So looking forward to connecting with role models & research superstars @DrDeidraCrews & @tpurnell1908 .#advocacy .#SocialJustice .#healthequity.
Looking forward to grand rounds this week! @Cervantes_Lily1 from @CUMedicalSchool joins us to discuss "Dialyzing the Undocumented Community: Research and Policy". 🗓️ Wednesday, February 24.⏰ 12:10 - 1:15 pm ET. Learn more ➡️:
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13/14.Step by step guidance to change access state by state:. -Gather a coalition who can develop case for change & influence decision-makers.-Engage media.-Gather the data.-Provide policy analysis.-Monitor outcomes.
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3/14.An estimated 6000-8000 undocumented immigrants with kidney failure have limited access to care due to exclusion from Medicare, provisions of ACA & some Medicaid programs. This U.S. map shows where dialysis is covered by Medicaid (green).
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10/14.Comparing utilization/costs between undocumented immigrants that receive emergency dialysis vs 3x/week scheduled dialysis:. - 5 fewer ED visits per month.- 1.6 fewer hospital days per 6 month.- savings of $6000 per person per month..@OanhKieuNguyen
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Congratulations on completing nephrology fellowship @katierizzolo . It has been such an honor to witness your passion for health justice work and advocacy! You are a brilliant rockstar & I love your energy! Feel incredibly honored to have worked w/you so closely these last 3
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❤️Celebrated Hilda’s 5 year kidney transplant anniversary! .⭐️ Her pictures illustrate her journey from emergency to regular dialysis-->transplant-->creating “Guerreras Latinas” & our NIH community research to reduce kidney disparities in Latino/a/x. @katierizzolo @mattysincs
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⭐️Congrats @tpurnell1908 -- on being the inaugural recipient of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award" @ASTSChimera. #transplant #equity @AST_info .You are so deserving!!!
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Love our tradition celebrating Dia de los Muertos, an annual remembrance of friends and family. Decorating sugar skulls and celebrating with delicious food.
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To reduce the burden of CKD among Latinx individuals, we must create culturally tailored interventions that build trust and cultivate community-clinic partnerships. Excited to share our narrative in @CJASN. @nkf @FlorAlvaradoMD @katierizzolo @tessa_novick .
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9/14.And emergency dialysis is also difficult for family because they experienced. - death anxiety.- physical and emotional exhaustion. Also, children acting as caregivers dropped out or missed school and faced psychosocial distress.
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An AMAZING outdoor dinner with AMAZING friends! .Gracias ❤️ @DrAnikaLucas @Nephro_Sparks & @mattysincs
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Celebrated a life changing health policy win! It has been a 4-year journey that culminated in policy change last month! Inspired by @apoorva_ram, Haley Simpson, Manisha, & Katya’s grit and persistent advocacy!
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1/Our new #research on distress faced by caregivers of undocumented #immigrants that rely on emergency dialysis .@JournalGIM . Effect on children:dropping out/missing school & psychosocial distress . @jeevsmd @OanhKieuNguyen @NathanAGray
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So awesome to see some of my favorite #Kidney #NephTwitter @DukeKidney community in-person! Feeling inspired by you all! At @CSPfellows conference!. @DMohottige @ssfarouk @mattysincs
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Sibling time!!A beautiful time with my younger brothers, both awesome physicians in Texas ❤️.@Dmanfresh99
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“Mentor someone who does not look like you.” @hurryknee & @DMohottige discussing strategies to address structural racism @nkf #NKFSCM2024 #NKFClinicals
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Can’t stop smiling after a breathtaking 1/2 marathon trail race 🏃🏽♀️through the redwoods & across rivers! 3rd place. San Lorenzo River Trail Run. ❤️
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Join us for this awesome hybrid NIDDK workshop on Implementation Science and Health Equity .- 10/10-10/11 in Bethesda.- Abstracts submission deadline 6/7. @katierizzolo @mattysincs @FlorAlvaradoMD @lelavillegas @PabloGarciaMD @RachelPatzerPhD.
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Community Health Workers unite to improve outcomes in #kidney disease! ⭐️ Inspired at #nkfclinicals . “I had to interpret to patients that they couldn’t receive care because of their immigration status”
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❤️ is full. Celebrated the holidays with our Latina research team and our Colorado patient & community partners. Feel so blessed to work on #kidney #HealthEquity research in partnership with our beautiful community.
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Join East High School students and community members in Colorado this Saturday, 4/29 at 10a.m. as we march at the capital and discuss efforts to reduce gun violence. @StudentsDemand @MomsDemand @abbeywinter1 @shannonrwatts. #GunControl
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Are policymakers adequately addressing health equity?. Join us for this awesome panel presentation at #NKFClinicals starting now. @tpurnell1908 @Delgadockdny & Dr. Yuvaram Reddy @eugelin06
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Excited for Day 2 of the Hispanic/Latina Women in Medicine conference! Loving the inspiring conversations, new friendships, and talks on empowerment, finding meaning, personal journeys, and conquering burnout. #HLWIM2024
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As a Latina physician and daughter of Mexican immigrants, I am furious. 🚨Effective today, Texas hospitals will be required to collect information on citizenship status on patients under Executive Order GA-46. This is an attack on our communities!.
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In total awe of Mount Fuji. So incredibly beautiful.
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1/.On COVID-19 ward -- LatinX Spanish-speaking pt. Me: "We may need to transfer you to the ICU" . Patient: "I'd rather go home. I have supplements that will make me better.". Me: "I'm worried. You're very sick.". Patient: "I don't feel sick.".
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Hilda’s story shows how one patient can change & inspire us to begin a path of advocacy. The privilege we have of caring for people comes w/a duty to take concrete action when we see suffering. We cannot accept unjust/unsustainable systems that cause harm. Thank you @drlessing
Honored to have won the @AOA_society Robert H Moser Essay Award to help amplify @Cervantes_Lily1 & Hilda’s message & share why her powerful eg is such an inspiration for me & to us all. Brick By Brick: The Advocacy Journey of Dr Lilia Cervantes #MedTwitter.
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My journey to research and advocacy was inspired by Hilda ❤️. Appreciate @CUAnschutz investment in sharing this story through video and including Hilda, friends, & family. Appreciate all my partners including patients, families, @chprogress @aubreykhill.
Determined to give ESKD patients across CO equal access to standard dialysis, @Cervantes_Lily1 and her research team led a major change in the state’s health policy. Now she’s taking her work nationwide. @CUMedicalSchool @CUDivHospMed @DenverHealthMed
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2/14 .Hilda suffered along with the other 80 undocumented immigrants with kidney failure, who in Colorado could only receive dialysis every 6 to 7 days when at the brink of death (=’emergency dialysis’). . Illustration @NathanAGray
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You're awesome! @DrDeidraCrews !.
@UNCKidney Our nephrologist of the day is Dr. Deidra Crews from @hopkinsneph. Dr. Crews is a nephrologist, researcher, and Associate Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion. #BlackHistoryMonth
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11/14.What’s the solution?. EMTALA- A federal law allowing Emergency Medicaid that specifies that hospitals provide emergency services to anyone w/an emergency medical condition. As of now, CMS provides no subregulatory guidance on the definition of emergency medical condition.
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Attended Latina 1st foundation luncheon with our Latina med students & Latina kidney navigator team —honored trailblazer Sonia Flores from @CUDeptMedicine & Latinas in high school received scholarships! @NHMAmd @LatinasInMed @CUSOMODI Girls can be what they can see!#Latinas
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🚨 Call to action! We will build a coalition to promote #InternationalMedicalGraduates! 🌍❤️. #IMGs bring diverse perspectives and invaluable skills. We will advocate for policies that remove barriers to their clinical practice in the U.S. It's time to disrupt outdated systems!.
Anyone who has the privilege of listening to one of @Cervantes_Lily1 talks immediately understands the power of her work and the innumerable lives she has saved through her work. Important takeaways:.- Advocacy saves lives.- Advocacy takes little to get started & is attainable
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Celebrating life🧡on this beautiful @nkf walk in Denver with “Guerreras y Guerreros, Salud de los Riñones” on behalf of people with #kidney disease who have no health insurance. #undocumented #healthjustice
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