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Evidence
Research and learnings that help improve medical-humanitarian practice.
Scientific Days of Doctors Without Borders in Latin America
Scientific Days Latin America 2026
Adapting to a changing humanitarian landscape
Innovative responses to evolving health challenges in Latin America
Dates
October 28th–29th, 2026
Location
Casa Cemefi - Ciudad de México
Format
Hybrid event
Languages
Spanish – English – Portuguese
About the event
Science, field experience, and innovation to improve humanitarian action
Scientific Days Latin America is a space to share research, experience, innovations, and lessons learned from medical-humanitarian action.
This event brings together health professionals, researchers, humanitarian organizations, students, and other stakeholders to discuss what works, what we’ve learned, and how evidence can help us improve the care we provide to patients and communities.
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Experience
Connecting scientific knowledge with realities found in the field.
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Innovation
Exploring new responses to humanitarian needs that continue to evolve.
2026 Edition
Latin America is changing. So are our responses
Medical-humanitarian challenges are evolving. Climate change, violence, migration, and structural inequalities are transforming the contexts in which we work. We need new responses based on evidence, experience, and innovation to adapt and continue providing quality care.
2026 topics
The challenges we'll put on the table
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Climate and health
How humanitarian programs can adapt to the impacts of climate change and environmental change on health.
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Violence and health
How to respond to the health consequences of violence and its impact on access to services.
03
Migration
Access barriers, continuity of care, and coordination between transit and destination countries.
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Sexual and reproductive health and rights
Innovative, rights-based approaches to expanding access to contraception and safe abortion services.
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Neglected tropical diseases
New strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and control.
Modalities
Two days, two options to participate
Speakers
Voices connecting science and humanitarian action
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Elena Vázquez Alférez
Physician and Researcher
Global Mental Health and Women’s Health
Mexico · Netherlands
Jean-François Véran
Anthropologist
UFRJ · LAPA-Research
Brazil
Sarah Beatriz Oliveira do Nascimento
Doctoral Researcher
IESP-UERJ · LAPA-Research
Brazil
Tania Marín Macías
Medical Coordinator
Médicos del Mundo México
Mexico
Verônica Motta Pimenta Velloso
Nutritionist, Researcher and Professor
Food and Nutritional Security
Brazil
Daniel Câmara
Biologist, PhD in Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology.
Rodrigo Ville
Physician specializing in infectious and tropical diseases.
Elis Marques
Psychologist and PhD candidate in Social Psychology at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).
Giuseppe Pulin
Physician and specialist in emergency medicine
Migration and health
Italy
Isis Colindres
Social worker with experience in the humanitarian field
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Honduras
Roopan Kaur Gill
Obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in complex family planning
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Colombia
Alejandra Armenta Espinosa
Facilitator of the workshop “Respecting All People (RAP)” | Advocacy for Access to Pharmaceutical Innovation.
Workshop RAP
México
José Luis Michelena
Executive Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Mexico and Central America.
Opening Remarks
México
Lycia Brasil
Moderator of the Climate and Health Session | Advocacy at MSF Brazil.
Climate and Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Brazil
Jennifer Marx
Encerramento Director of the Brazilian Medical Unit (BRAMU)
Closing Remarks
Brazil
Kell Alanis
Humanitarian nurse, feminist activist, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate.
RAP Workshop
México
Eugenia López Uribe
Regional Director of IPPF for the Americas and the Caribbean. Her leadership is grounded in intersectional and trans-inclusive feminist values.
RAP Workshop
México
Diana Montelongo
Psychologist and Regional Psychosocial Support Reference for Médecins Sans Frontières staff.
Facilitators of the Psychological First Aid Workshop
México
Esmeralda Cisneros Torres
Clinical and community psychologist. She currently supervises the Mental Health, Health Promotion and Intercultural Mediation teams of MSF Mexico’s Migrants Project.
Facilitators of the Psychological First Aid Workshop
México
Andrea Marchiol
Physician specializing in Tropical Medicine and Community Health. She works at DNDi, where she is responsible for access projects for Chagas disease in Latin America.
Climate and Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Brasil
Agenda
2026 program
October 28 – Opening of the 2026 Scientific Days of Latin America
8:00-8:20 a.m. | Opening
(Mexico City time)
- 8:00–8:05 a.m. | Opening of the 2026 Latin America Scientific Days – José Luis Michelena, Executive Director of MSF in Mexico and Central America (in person).
- 8:05–8:20 a.m. | Keynote address – Eugenia López Uribe, Director of IPPF | Global movement that defends sexual and reproductive rights and the freedom to make decisions without discrimination. (in person).
8:20–09:15 a.m.| Session 1: Migration and Health
(Mexico City time)
- 8:20–8:25 a.m. | Session introduction and speaker introductions – Karla Gutiérrez, Humanitarian Affairs Manager, MSF Mexico (in person).
- 8:25–8:35 a.m. | Producing Care Within the Collectivity: An Experience Report with a Group of Migrant and Refugee Women in Brazil – Elis Marques and Laura Quadros, Rio de Janeiro State University (remote).
- 8:35–8:45 a.m. | Food Insecurity and Mental Health Among Migrants and Refugees – Verônica Motta Pimenta Velloso, Fluminense Federal University (remote).
- 8:45–8:55 a.m. | Splenic Rupture After Fuel Exposure: The First Evidence of a New Migration Syndrome? – Giuseppe Pulin, MSF Italy (in person).
- 8:55–9:15 a.m. | Panel discussion.
9:15–10:20 a.m. | Session 2: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
(Mexico City time)
- 9:15–9:20 a.m. | Session introduction and speaker introductions.
- 9:20–9:30 a.m. | Menstrual Hygiene Kits for Adolescents: Experiences from San Pedro Sula, Honduras – Isis Colindres, MSF Honduras (remote).
- 9:30–9:40 a.m. | Adapting Aya Contigo for Migrant and Conflict-Affected Communities in Colombia – Roopan Gil, Vitala Global (in person).
- 9:40–9:50 a.m. | Remote and In-Person Delivery of a Family-Based Perinatal Intervention for Adolescent Parents in Peru: A Qualitative Implementation Study – Elena Vazquez, Antes, Rotterdam (in person).
- 9:50–10:00 a.m. | La Cuerpa que Migra: Barriers to and Facilitators of Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health in Mexico and Central America – Tania Marín, Doctors of the World (in person).
- 10:00–10:20 a.m. | Panel discussion.
10:20–10:50 | Break
(Mexico City time)
10:50–11:55 a.m.| Session 3: Salud climática y enfermedades tropicales desatendidas
(Mexico City time)
- 10:50–10:55 a.m. | Session introduction and speaker introductions – Lycia Brasil, moderator (in person).
- 10:55–11:05 a.m. | Climate-Sensitive Diseases and Humanitarian Action in Latin America: An MSF Operational Framework – Rodrigo Ville, MSF (remote).
- 11:05–11:15 a.m. | Simplifying Chagas Disease Diagnosis in Colombia: From Implementation Research to Public Policy – Andrea Marchiol, DNDi (remote).
- 11:15–11:25 a.m. | CLISEVE Altamira: From Participatory Data Generation to Climate and Health Action – Jean Francois Veran and Sarah Beatriz Oliveira do Nascimento, Lapa Research (in person).
- 11:25–11:45 a.m. | Panel discussion.
- 11:45–11:55 a.m. | Closing remarks – Jennifer Marx, Director of BRAMU.
OCTOBER 29 – WORKSHOPS
(Mexico City time)
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Workshop: “Caring for Those Who Inform: Psychological First Aid Principles for Researchers and Journalists” – Diana Montelongo and Esmeralda Cisneros.
8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Workshop: “Respecting All People (RAP)” – Alejandra Armenta Espinosa and Kell Alanis.
Workshops
Deepen the experience with our workshops – October 29
Workshop 1
Caring while informing
Principles of Psychological First Aid for researchers and journalists.
A practical workshop exploring how to interact respectfully with people who have experienced critical situations or emergencies. Through case studies and practical exercises, participants will explore basic principles of Psychological First Aid to listen without putting pressure on people, respect boundaries, and identify when it is necessary to facilitate access to specialized support. The workshop will also invite participants to reflect on the impact that listening to difficult testimonies can have on journalists and researchers.
Limited places: maximum 25 participants. Registration does not guarantee participation in the workshop.
Workshop 2
Respecting all people (RAP)
Values and attitudes for inclusive care for LGBTQI+ people.
A reflective and interactive workshop exploring how our values are formed and how they influence decision-making and behavior, which can have a positive or negative effect on the care provided to LGBTQI+ patients. The workshop will address assumptions, myths and realities, as well as the difficulties LGBTQI+ people face in accessing healthcare, and will identify concrete steps to contribute to dignified and inclusive care.
Limited places: maximum 20 participants. Registration does not guarantee participation in the workshop.
Registration
Be part of Scientific Days 2026
October 28th and 29th · Mexico City + online
Register to take part and receive information about the program, streaming access, and event updates.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Yes. However, each person wishing to participate must register individually in advance.
No. The activity is open to people with varying levels of experience and interest in the topics. All that is required is an interest in the subjects and a desire to learn more.
You will receive the access link via email a few days before the event.
If you do not find it in your inbox, we recommend checking your spam or junk mail folders.
Yes, you can participate only on the second day. However, we recommend attending both days to get the most out of the experience.
The event will feature simultaneous interpretation in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
The event follows a hybrid format: on October 28, you can participate either in person or virtually, while the activity on October 29 will be in-person only.
No, participation is free.
The Latin America Scientific Days are an event organized by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) that seeks to share knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned from medical-humanitarian programs in the region.
Its goal is to help improve the quality of care provided to patients and communities—based on evidence—by disseminating research, innovations, and best practices developed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as well as by other external organizations and initiatives.
The event will be held at Casa Cemefi, in Mexico City.
Yes. Once you complete your registration, you will receive a confirmation email.
If you do not find it in your inbox, we recommend checking your spam or junk mail folders.
Who is it for?
A space open to exchange
You don’t need to work at MSF to be part of the conversation.
MSF members, humanitarian organizations, and public policy actors
Health professionals, students, academics
