Report from Vice President for Latin America
Dr. Nelci Zanon Collange MWIA Regional Vice President for Latin America
This update focuses on two international meetings (PAMWA Mexico and ABMM Brazil) and the new countries from Latin America that have joined MWIA.
Mexico under Dr Veronica Clara Rodrigues Torres organized a very important meeting for the Pan American Medical Women’s Alliance (PAMWA) in Mexico City from November 8 to 9, 2024.
Brazil, under the presidency of Nelci Zanon organized a meeting of the Brazilian Medical
Women’s Association (ABMM) in Sao Paulo on May 30 and 31, 2025 with the presence of Latin America representatives and online India and USA speakers. We were honored that MWIA President, Eleanor Nwadinobi attended.
The MWIA Latin America members are increasing. We now have Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
Many Blessings to all MWIA families!
Professor Nelci Zanon Collange
1.Report of Activities of Latin American region of MWIA
1.1 Meeting PAMWA Mexico City
1.2 ABMM Brazil, based on the 23rd meeting and support to PAMWA presidency
1.3 News from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama and Peru
1.4 Nelci Zanon as a Visiting Professor in Birmingham, Alabama, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s hospital
1.1 Pan American Medical Women’s Alliance (PAMWA – Alianza Panamericana de Médicas): On November 8 and 9, 2024, during the PAMWA congress in Mexico City, Veronica Clara Rodríguez Torres took office in the presence of MWIA president Eleanor Nwadinobi and leaders from Latin America. With the slogan *Medical Cience* at the Museo del Palacio de la Escuela de Medicina UNAM, Mexico City, this was a hybrid event with more than 100 on site attendees and Latin America countries online. The two-day meeting comprised lectures, case discussions, questions and answers from the audience. Several topics were on the scientific program, not only healthy women issues but also leadership, collaboration studies on different areas, translational research, women and girls’ education and future perspectives. As the first in-person meeting after the pandemic, the joy of reunion was unforgettable for all of the participants, with unbelievable memories for life. This special meeting with the MWIA president Eleanor was fundamental to including other countries as MWIA members! (See pictures 1, 2 and 3).
Statement of Sao Paulo, Brazil, MWIA Vice Presidency Latin America, ABMM presidency Nelci Zanon gives official support to Veroncia Clara Rodriguez Torres current PAMWA president: We declare that we know and agree that Veroncia Clara Rodriguez Torres was elected in São Paulo, Brazil in May 2015 during the PAMWA International Congress. Ivone Meinao Chair was the president of the congress that year. After the congress in Mexico City, November 2024, Veronica Clara Rodríguez Torres took office in the presence of the president of MWIA Eleanor Nwadinobi and leaders from Latin America. Today, June 2, 2025, in a face-to-face meeting, we reaffirm and give support to Veroncia Clara Rodriguez Torres as current PAMWA president, with endorsement of ABMM, (Brazilian Medical Women Association) signed by Nelci Zanon Collange, MWIA Latin America Vice President and ABMM (Brazilian Medical Women Association) current president. Ivone Meinao, PAMWA congress president 2015, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nair Eunice Valverde Barbato Prates past president PAMWA and Veronica Clara Rodríguez Torres, current PAMWA president.
1.2 With support of MWIA and PAMWA, the 23rd ABMM meeting was held at Santa Casa de Misericordia, Sao Paulo, May 29 and 30, 2025
Nelci Zanon President and Marilene Melo honorary president of the congress. The organizing committee with 20 colleagues met online, weekly for 5 months, to organize the scientific program, looking for sponsors and planning a marketing strategy. The congress, held at the Santa Casa de Misericordia in São Paulo on the 30th and 31st of May 2025 was a scientific and social success with more than 130 participants and 40 speakers. The theme of the congress was Women’s health challenges: science and innovation. Topics ranged from artificial intelligence, simulation, robotics, current transformations in society and challenges facing the medical profession including telemedicine, gender medicine, frontiers of medical activity, current controversies in science, postponed motherhood and reconciling medical and family activities. MWIA President, Eleanor Nwadinobi and Amany Asfour president elect and triennial meeting Cairo president sent welcome videos. We are very grateful for their generosity. The Latin American colleagues that gave us the honor of their presence and active participation in the meeting included Verónica Clara Rodríguez Torres from Mexico, current PAMWA President (Pan American Medical Women’s Alliance – Alianza Panamericana de Médicas); PAMWA president of the Costa Rica Chapter Carmen Di Mare Hering; Dayara Martinez president of the Panama PAMWA chapter; Milagros Toledo, president of the Peru PAMWA chapter. All are MWIA representatives in their own countries. All the three major medical schools in Sao Paulo, UNIFESP (Universiade Federal de Sao Paulo), USP (Universidade de Sao Paulo) and Santa Casa de São Paulo sent their representatives in each faculty area to our meeting.
1.2.1 At both the PAMWA congress in Mexico and the ABMM congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a lecture on violence against women took place online. Minnie Oseji from Nigeria delivered a speech on violence against women as a widespread human rights violation. After the lecture a round table discussion took place on identification of the signs to detect and the steps to prevention and legal actions for referral.
- News from Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Progress has been made on the membership, social and scientific activities.
1.3.1 Brazil has increased its membership to 41: with ABMM National in the biennium 2024-2025 under the leadership of Nelci Zanon; ABMM section Sao Paulo under the presidency of Elizabeth Regina Giunco Alexandre and ABMM section Parana under the Presidency of Chang Chain Yen-Li.
1.3.2 Mexico regained MWIA membership as a country under the presidency of Veroncia Clara Rodriguez Torres, current PAMWA president (Pan American Medical Women’s Alliance – Alianza Panamericana de Médicas). After the PAMWA meeting November 2024, Mexico was included as a new MWIA member with 35 members.
1.3.3 Peru, under the leadership of Milagros Toledo. Her participation in the PAMWA meeting last year in Mexico City and ABMM 23rd meeting in Sao Paulo, reinforced the Peru participation at MWIA with 12 associated.
1.3.4 Ecuador, under the leadership of Gina Del Rosario has 12 MWIA
associated members and she is the PAMWA Ecuador representative.
1.3.5 Costa Rica, Carmen Di Mare Hering, PAMWA Ecuador
representatives bring the new country to MWIA LA with 12 associated. Pre-approval on the last ExCo online meeting June 21. Final approval probably in Cairo, at the next triennial meeting.
1.3.6. Panama, under the leadership of Dayara Martinez brings 3
new individual members to MWIA and she is the
PAMWA Panama representative.
1.3.7. Guatemala, under the leadership of Jackelline Osorio has 2 new individual
MWIA members and she is PAMWA Panama representative.
1.4 Lastly, Nelci Zanon, VP LA and National ABMM president, on June 5, 2025 was honored with an invitation as a Visiting Professor at Department of Neurosurgery UAB/Pediatric Neurosurgery Division / The University of Alabama at Birmingham, US. Topic Pediatric Fellow Guest Lecturer and Global neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Part of the Program Global Neurosurgery.
Gratitude to Clarissa Fabre for accepting our late MWIA LA update!
Brazil, São Paulo, June 28, 2025
Nelci Zanon Collange
Latin American VP of MWIA
Fig 1.A, PAMWA Meeting Mexico, Nov 24-25, 2024, at UNAM Fig 1.B,Veronica Clara Rodriguez Torres, tipical costume Fig 1.C, Eleanor Nwadinobi, MWIA president at Mexico aeroport with Veronica Fig 1.D, Audience PAMWA Meeting Mexico, under the Presidency Veronica
Fig 2.A, Flyer 23rd Brazilian Congress of Medical Women Association-ABMM, May 30-31, 2025, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Santa Casa de Misericordia, Sao Paulo, Fig 2.B, ABMM Leaders, Brazilian medical Women Association celebration, left to right: Francy Reis da Silva Patrocinio, Elizabeth Giunco Alexandre, Marilene Melo, Veroncia Clara Rodriguez Torres and Eliza Maria do Ceu B Moreira Garcez. Fig 2.C, ABMM celebration 2024 picture, Flyer 2025 2025 meeting Fig 2.D, Closure dinner and celebration with Dr Marilene Melo, president of honor and Nelci Zanon, congress president ABMM 23o meting Fig 2.E, Veronica Clara Rodrigues Torres, PAMWA president, final words rewarded by Nelci Zanon president of the May 30-31, 2025 Fug 2.F, Audience at the end on the second day meeting. Organizing committee of the 23rd Brazilian meeting ABMM Online weekly activities