Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 | Virtual
Conference Agenda
Saturday, Oct 3, 2026
Opening Remarks and Health Literacy 101:
Why It Matters Before Medical School
9:00 am – 10:00 am | 60 mins
Explore the foundations of health literacy and how pre-med students can begin developing communication skills and advocating for health literacy throughout medical education and future patient care.
Katherine Morones
Conference Lead
University of La Verne, Recent Graduate
Michael Villaire, MSLM
Chairman & CEO
Institute for Healthcare Advancement
Cliff Coleman, MD, MPH,
Professor
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Emily Purzycki
MD Candidate
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Ruby Aaron
MD Candidate
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Savir Potru
Student
Saint Louis University
Break – 10mins
Social Media and Digital Health Literacy for Future Physicians
10:10 am – 11:10 am | 60 mins
Learn how social media and digital health information shape patient decisions and how future physicians can help patients navigate misinformation and identify credible health information.
Dr. Faiz Shariff, MD, FACS, DOBOM,
Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery, Director of Robotic Surgery,
WellSpan York Hospital
Break – 10mins
The Skill Every Student Needs:
Teach back for Safer, Higher-quality, and More Equitable Care
11:20 am – 12:20 pm | 60 mins
Discover how teach-back helps healthcare professionals confirm patient understanding and supports safer, higher-quality, equitable, and patient-centered care.
Mary Ann Abrams, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor – Nationwide Children’s Hospital;
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Break – 10mins
What Can You Do Now?
Real Experiences from Pre-Med Students
12:30 pm- 1:30 pm | 60 mins
Hear from pre-med students about how real-world experiences have shaped their understanding of health literacy and the practical steps undergraduates can take now to prepare for future patient care.
Siddharth Adda
Student
University of Pennsylvania
Rikza Fatima
Student
Hunter College, City University of New York
Gabriella Martinez
Student
University of Missouri – Kansas City
Savir Potru
Student Moderator
Saint Louis University
Closing Remarks
Katherine Morones
Conference Lead, University of La Verne, Recent Graduate