The health care professionals there have a real dedication to medical education and health care for their citizens. The day-long program that followed not only offered medical information, but also allowed for a new and important dialogue about education, especially nursing education. I found that we had many things in common and I feel an exchange would be mutually beneficial. The symposium and conference, presented by the Texas Medical Center International Affairs Advisory Council, came about at the invitation of Veracruz city council member Efrain Ralero Trinidad after he visited the Texas Medical Center campus in fall 1998. Felix Fraga, Houston city council member from district five, accompanied the group.
Organizers hope to make the conference an annual event.
The Veracruz conference follows a similar trip by health professionals from several Texas Medical Center institutions to Mexico City in February where organ transplantation and disease prevention strategies were the topics. This was the second time a delegation from the Texas Medical Center has travelled to Mexico City for such an exchange. It is terribly important to address the student needs because they represent the future of health care in Mexico. Approximately 200 medical professionals and students attended the Veracruz conference, which garnered both print and electronic media attention from the Mexican press. The mayor of Veracruz, Francisco J. Avila Camberos, was in attendance and hosted a reception afterward.