Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers’ presentations will begin @ 9:00 am in GC 243. Poster presentations will be available for viewing throughout the day. Evaluations will be completed electronically and/or on paper collected.
Dr. Francisco Brenes
Dr. Francisco Brenes’ research program focuses on psychiatric and behavioral health disparities, suicide, and the role of spirituality and herbal medicines in diverse and vulnerable communities, especially among undocumented immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced individuals. Dr. Brenes’s research promotes an understanding of the psychosocial and behavioral health challenges encountered among underserved populations. Effective strategies can be developed to support mental health care in vulnerable communities by examining the psychosocial stressors these groups encounter. His research benefits diverse ethnic groups, vulnerable children and families, as well as underserved populations.
Dr. Mariateresa H. Muñoz
Dr. Mariateresa H. Muñoz is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She has 29 years of experience combined as a speech-language pathologist and special education instructor.
She has specialized in the areas of early childhood development and intervention, early language development and disorders, Neuromotor Speech Disorders (apraxia and dysarthria), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and Avoidant Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorders.
As a researcher, Dr. Munoz has worked on numerous funded grants including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded project titled: Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students.
Dr. Muñoz is the president and founding board member of St. Thérèse's Roses of Hope, Pediatric Center, Inc., a nonprofit communication sciences and disorders clinic. Dr. Muñoz has an Associate’s Degree in Speech Communication from Miami-Dade College; Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from FIU; and a Master’s and Doctoral Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Timothy F. Page
Dr. Timothy F. Page is currently a Professor and Director of Academic Affairs in the Department of Management in the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Page was a tenured Associate Professor, Ph.D. program director, and interim chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Florida International University. He received his Ph.D. in Economics with specializations in healthcare and policy from the University of New Hampshire in 2008. Dr. Page’s research portfolio includes over 45 peer-reviewed publications and participation as principal and co-investigator in funded projects totaling over $12.5 million. Education: Ph.D. - University of New Hampshire - Economics
Speaker with PhD students
An accomplished, upcoming PhD graduate from FIU and Certified Nurse Educator with close to 9 years of experience in the healthcare industry, his areas of focus include Nursing Education, Surgical Services, Public Health, Minority Health, and Critical Care, with additional experience in Minority Health and Critical Care. His philosophical focus centers around the psychiatric and stigmatic pressures of obtaining Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Latin Men who have sex with Men (LMSM). Following the completion of his Ph.D. Nursing program, he plans on pursuing a career in the healthcare field to understand and apply educational concepts for patient health and knowledge promotion regarding best-practice comprehension amongst prospective staff. In doing so, his goal is to positively impact the health-related outcomes of our community and decrease the morbidity and mortality rates of minority individuals through the discipline of nursing practice.