MSF Scientific Days in Latin America

A conference without borders

Discover Doctors Without Borders Scientific Days in Latin America!

At Doctors Without Borders we believe that science, field experience, and the exchange of ideas are essential for transforming humanitarian action. 

That is why MSF Scientific Days in Latin America has established itself as a unique meeting for health professionals, researchers, and students, with a special focus on the challenges and realities of Latin America. 

During this event, we open a dialogue that transcends borders: 

  • Recent research findings are shared 
  • New medical practices are tested 
  • Experiences in contexts of crisis, emergency, and inequality are discussed 

The goal is not only to present academic results, but also to question them, enrich them with different perspectives, and, above all, seek solutions that can be applied in the real lives of the most vulnerable communities. 

Save the date!

1

October 2025

This is a hybrid event, in person modality in Mexico City

CEMEFI House, Philanthropy Hall

Cerrada de Salvador Alvarado 7, Colonia Escandón, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SrFeHqgxUj4Z34Nz8

This year, join us for a day of exchange, reflection, and learning about research in humanitarian contexts on this years theme: 

“Breaking barriers: Guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health for all people in humanitarian crises.” 

In a context where the advance of restrictive policies and declining funding threaten fundamental rights, it is urgent to highlight the gaps faced by those most affected by inequality, forced migration, violence, and limited access to essential health services. 

We want to share findings, challenges, and innovations in sexual and reproductive health in crisis contexts in Latin America and beyond. 

We will cover the following themes: 

  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents and young people in humanitarian crises 
  • Inclusion of LGBTQI+ people and sex workers: from marginalization to rights-based care 
  • Strategies to expand access to safe abortion in the face of legal, social, and operational challenges 
  • Sexual violence: addressing the needs of survivors – Innovative SRH solutions in humanitarian contexts: creative approaches to providing sexual and reproductive health services in contexts of conflict, migration, and remote areas 

Event agenda

14:00h UTC
8:00 h CDMX
9:00 h Bogotá
11:00 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Opening speech

Maritza Regardiz 
Medical Programs Support 
MSF Mexico and Central America 

Keynote speech: Dosia Calderon 
Deputy Representative 
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Mexico 

14:20h UTC
8:20 h CDMX
9:20 h Bogotá
11:20 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Adolescents and Young People in Crisis Situations

Moderator: Fabiola Navarrete 
Social Work Manager 
MSF Mexico and Central America 

Transforming participation into power: Community engagement as a catalyst for adolescent-centred health in Mbare, Zimbabwe 
Samuel Sithole
 
Health Promotion and Community Engagement Manager – Mbare Project 
MSF Zimbabwe 

15:00h UTC
9:00 h CDMX
10:00 h Bogotá
12:00 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Inclusion of LGBTQI+ People and Sex Workers in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: From Marginalization to Rights-Based Care

Moderator: Lucy O’Connell 
Key Populations Advisor – South African Medical Unit 
MSF 

“Regional Report: Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Sex Workers in Latin America and the Caribbean” 
Lucy Esquivel
 
Executive Secretary 
Network of Women Sex Workers of Latin America and the Caribbean 

Prevalence of STIs and the use of NAATs in an MSF Clinic for key populations in Honduras” 
Fanny Lucia Acosta Quintanilla
Medical doctor MSF – San Pedro Sula Project 
MSF Honduras 

“Community-based management of Gender Based Violence survivors through a peer-led approach among sex workers in Beira project, Mozambique” 
Monserrat Barrios
 
Epidemiology Activity Manager – Beira Project 
MSF Mozambique 

Health disparities for LGBTQIA+ people: An emerging neglected global health crisis 
Ayla Emmink
 
Public Health Advisor
MSF TIC Project LGBTQI+ Inclusion 

15:45h UTC
9:45 h CDMX
10:45 h Bogotá
12:45 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Panel: "Inclusion of LGBTQI+ People and Sex Workers in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: From Marginalization to Rights-Based Care"

16:05h UTC
10:05 h CDMX
11:05 h Bogotá
13:05 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Coffee break

16:25h UTC
10:25 h CDMX
11:25 h Bogotá
13:25 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Overcoming Barriers to Safe Abortion Care – Strategies to Expand Access Despite Legal, Social, and Operational Challenges

Moderator: Rachel Milkovich 
Senior Advocacy Specialist, Global Health and Policy 
MSF USA 

How a participatory dissemination strategy among authorities, journalists and civil society actors addressed the needed change of perceptions around abortion 
Therese Tuyisabingabire 
MSF Central African Republic 

Regional networks to strengthen rights: the experience of the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion 
Mariana Vazquez
 
Project Manager 
CLACAILatin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion 

“Reproductive rights: GIRE model for accompanying cases”
Jazmín Arely Hernández Castillo
Information Group on Reproductive Choice (GIRE)

17:00h UTC
11:00 h CDMX
12:00 h Bogotá
14:00 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Sexual Violence: Addressing Survivors' Needs and Innovative SRH Solutions in Humanitarian Contexts – Creative Approaches to Service Delivery in Conflict Zones, Migration Settings, and Remote Areas

Moderator: Valeria Reyes 
Community Strategies Activity Manager 
MSF Mexico and Central America 

Interconnected experiences of violence: Exploring the nexus of sexual violence, migration, and asylum plans for migrants in Latin America 
Diana Gomez
 
Qualitative Research Activities Manager 
MSF Mexico and Central America 

“Sexual violence against older adults in complex humanitarian settings: A retrospective analysis from Médecins Sans Frontières, 2019-2024” 
Elburg van Boetzelaer 
Epidemiology Advisor
MSF Netherlands 

“Well-being with wisdom: An approach to making cytology accessible to Venezuelan indigenous communities” 
Tatiana Giusti
 
Universidad Central de Venezuela 

“A multisectoral approach to overcoming barriers and building bridges increased access to care for survivors of sexual violence – An example from Marajó, Brazil” 
Cristal Oliveira
 
Project coordinator 
MSF Brazil 

17:45h UTC
11:45 h CDMX
12:45 h Bogotá
14:45 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Panel: "Sexual Violence: Addressing the Needs of Survivors and Innovative SRH Solutions in Humanitarian Contexts – Creative Approaches to Service Delivery in Conflict Zones, Migration Settings, and Remote Areas"

18:05h UTC
12:05 h CDMX
13:05 h Bogotá
15:05 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

MSF Scientific Days Latin America 2025 Closing Ceremony

Jennifer Marx
Medical Director – Brazilian Medical Unit
MSF

Awareness workshops will only be held in person

It is important to note that only those who attended the entire event in person will be able to participate the workshops

19:00 – 23:00h UTC
13:00 – 17:00 h CDMX
14:00 – 18:00 h Bogotá
16:00 – 20:00 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

In Your Heels/ Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Lucy O’Connell 
Key populations 
MSF South Africa’s Medical Unit 

Valeria Reyes 
Community Strategy Activities Manager 
Doctors Without Borders Mexico and Central America 

Fabiola Navarrete 
Social Work Manager 
Doctors Without Borders Mexico and Central America 

19:00 – 23:00h UTC
13:00 – 17:00 h CDMX
14:00 – 18:00 h Bogotá
16:00 – 20:00 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Respecting all patients (LGBTQI+ inclusion)

Alejandra Armenta
Asociativo de MSF para México y Centro América (CAMEX)

Arantza Peralta
Líder de proyecto Antirracismo de MSF

19:00 – 23:00h UTC
13:00 – 17:00 h CDMX
14:00 – 18:00 h Bogotá
16:00 – 20:00 h Rio de Janeiro/ Buenos Aires/ Montevideo/ Chile

Exploring values and attitudes about abortion

Ana Ugalde
Gestora de actividades e implementadora en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva y Violencia Sexual
Médicos Sin Fronteras

Awareness workshops

Important: Please note that these workshops are held in a confidential space. Participants are asked not to take photos or videos; the sessions will not be available online. 

In Your Heels

What is it about?

“In Her Heelsis an interactive workshop designed to raise awareness among participants about the experiences of sex workers. A time to report on human rights violations and the challenges they face due to criminalization, this session allows participants to put themselves in their shoes, experiencing the limited and often difficult choices they face, as well as the various forms of violence they suffer. 

Overall objective

To understand the realities commonly faced by sex workers and other criminalized groups, particularly the stigma and discrimination they face when seeking support. 

Session objectives
  • Reflect on how stigma, discrimination, criminalization, and exclusion affect sex workers’ access to care. 
  • Experience and empathize with individual stories about barriers to care, relating them to what Doctors Without Borders (MSF) could do. 
  • Understand the role of peer education and community engagement with key populations. 
Methodology

This workshop is often an emotional and personal experience that goes beyond traditional awareness-raising. It is based on participatory dynamics that seek to offer a direct experience of the realities faced by sex workers and other criminalized groups. 
criminalized. 

The methodology focuses on: 

  • Guided personal reflection, to question values, perceptions, and attitudes. 
  • Experiential exercises, which allow participants to put themselves in the shoes of those who suffer discrimination. 
  • Safe spaces for dialogue, where experiences, emotions, and lessons learned are shared. 

Workshop: Introduction to Comprehensive Sexuality Education

What is it about?

Would you like to learn about the beauty of sexuality and how to approach it in a positive way within MSF’s adolescent and other programs? This workshop aims to accompany you in a paradigm shift regarding sexuality. We will have fun and learn! 

General objective

To increase knowledge about Comprehensive Sexuality Education, aimed at staff who work directly with adolescents (primary audience) and people who are interested in learning about a positive approach to talking about sexuality. 

Session objectives
  • Present sexuality and its functions as a beautiful and essential part of the person. 
  • Become familiar with the perspectives used in comprehensive sexuality education: risk approach vs. positive approach. 
  • Learn the key elements for providing education with a positive approach to sexuality. 
  • Share interactive methodologies that can be used with adolescents. 
Methodology

Participatory, in-person workshop with discussions, plenary sessions, individual and group work, role-playing, and audiovisual presentations. 

What is it about?

Although MSF works with the LGBTQI+ population in many settings where they face harassment, violence, discrimination, and legal and social exclusion, there is also a significant knowledge gap and often cultural or religious prejudices when people who identify as LGBTQI+ seek medical care. The RAP workshop consists of an exploration of values and attitudes associated with LGBTQI+ inclusion in health services. The RAP workshop is an intervention that reduces barriers to care for LGBTQI+ patients. Everyone can attend the workshop. 

General objective

Create a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore how values are formed and how they influence decision-making and behavior, which can have a positive or negative effect on our patients 

Session objectives

  • Identify and express your values and attitudes in providing services to LGBTQI+ individuals and other groups. 
  • Distinguish between assumptions, myths, and realities surrounding people who identify as LGBTQI+. 
  • Understand and feel confident talking about the medical need for dignified care for LGBTQI+ patients and MSF’s policies on this issue. 
  • Identify the difficulties LGBTQI+ people face in accessing healthcare. 
  • Describe concrete steps to take in relation to providing dignified care to LGBTQI+ people, in accordance with your professional role within MSF. 
  • Understand which other projects could also benefit from the RAP workshop in the future. 

Methodology

The workshop is highly reflective and interactive. It is adapted from the Safe Abortion Care for Exploring Values and Attitudes (EVA SAC) workshop, using similar activities and others that may be new. 

What is it about?

EVA training stands for Exploration of Values and Attitudes. This workshop helps participants identify, explore, and question their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and emotions regarding abortion. It is a safe space for reflection and dialogue with the aim of improving consistency, confidence, and quality in the provision of safe abortion care in MSF projects. 

Overall objective

The objective of the EVA workshop is for participants to explore, question, and affirm their values and attitudes about abortion, thereby increasing support for the provision of safe abortion services. 

Session objectives

  • Identify and express our attitudes and values about abortion, as well as those of others. 
  • Differentiate between assumptions, myths, and realities surrounding abortion and unwanted pregnancy. 
  • Understand and feel comfortable talking about the medical need for safe abortion services and MSF’s policies on this issue. 
  • To describe the concrete next steps to be taken in relation to the provision of safe abortion services in line with MSF’s social mission. 

Methodology

EVA integrates a combination of creative and interactive training methods that are effective in reflecting on values and transforming attitudes, including: 

  •  
  • Case studies 
  • Simulations and role-playing 
  • Expressive activities (e.g., storytelling) 

MSF Scientific Days in Latin America are a space where research and medical action come together to transform realities.

Meet our speakers

Samuel Sithole

Gerente de Promoción de la Salud y Participación Comunitaria - Médicos Sin Fronteras

Samuel Sithole is a public health professional with over 16 years of experience in health promotion, community engagement, and health system strengthening. He currently serves as Health Promotion and Community Engagement Manager for the Mbare Adolescent Health Project with Dcotors Without Borders in Zimbabwe. Samuel is deeply committed to community-driven methodologies and has led the implementation of patient bill of rights, multi-channel feedback systems, and adolescent health advisory councils. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, an Executive MBA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion, and has presented at regional scientific platforms such as ICASA. 

Diana Davila Pineda

Medical Activities Manager - MSF

Diana Davila Pineda has a degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Neonatal Intensive Care. She has been part of the Doctors Without Borders team in Honduras since 2019 and currently serves as medical activities manager at the clinic that cares for survivors of sexual violence, the LGTBIQ population, and sex workers as part of Doctors Without Borders sexual and reproductive health project in San Pedro Sula, where they provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary healthcare free of stigma and discrimination. Diana participated in the study on the prevalence of STIs and the use of NAAT tests in key populations at the MSF clinic in San Pedro Sula. 

Ayla Emmink

Public Health Advisor – MSF's ICT Project LGBTQ/+ Inclusion

Ayla worked as LGBTQI+ Public Health advisor for the LGBTQI+ Inclusion Project in 2024, after various international assignments with MSF (since 2019) and other NGOs (since 2016) as Medical Doctor, MTL and Medical Coordinator. In 2023 they started a Postgraduate Master in Humanitarian Practice via the LEAP program.

Ayla dedicated their medical/humanitarian career to People on the Move in disaster, emergency and conflict situations, with a special interest to protect extra vulnerable populations. They acquired knowledge and skills to work with survivors of torture, survivors of SGBV and to apply care along trauma-informed and inclusive principles.

And as a private person they have been active member of and ambassador for the international LGBTQI+ community.

Elburg Van Boetzalaer

Epidemiology Advisor - MSF

Elburg is a public health professional specializing in humanitarian health emergencies, with over a decade of experience working in humanitarian crises around the world, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Iraq, and Bangladesh. She has worked with the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Doctors Without Borders. 

Elburg holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from Columbia University and a PhD from Utrecht University, focusing on the rights and needs of older people in humanitarian crises. She currently serves as Epidemiology Advisor at the Amsterdam Operational Center of Doctors Without Borders. 

Cristal de Oliveira Silva

Project Coordinator - MSF

Brazilian, motivated by work that addresses complex social challenges with respect for human rights. Her professional experience is reflected in the development and implementation of people-centered projects and human resources development. With experience in both international and national projects, she has worked in the private sector, public administration, and international NGOs. She currently coordinates humanitarian projects focused on the protection of the most vulnerable civilians. She holds a postgraduate degree in Social Innovation Management from the Amani Institute and is a member of Starting Bloc, a global network of educators and innovators working to generate positive impact.

From epidemics to mental health in contexts of violence: Scientific Days are the place to explore, question, and propose solutions.

Here you have the opportunity to experience it as if you were there

We present you the opportunity to experience last years Scientific Days as if you were there.

By clicking here you can relive previous editions and learn firsthand about the discussions, presentations, and testimonials that marked our 2022 and 2024 Scientific Days. These videos are a window into understanding how research, innovation, and medical practice come together to transform care in crisis contexts.
Explore the highlights and discover how the ideas shared in the past continue to inspire and shape the future of humanitarian action in Latin America.

Frequently asked questions

What are MSF's Scientific Days in Latin America?

MSF’s Scientific Days in Latin America is an annual event that brings together social and biomedical scientists, public and humanitarian professionals, and health workers to discuss findings, reflections, and updates on key issues for the region. 

Anyone interested in scientific and innovation issues related to humanitarian work can register. The event will be broadcast online and you can connect from anywhere in the world, with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish, English, and Portuguese. 

MSF’s Scientific Days in Latin America will take place on October 1, 2025.  

It will be a hybrid event, held in person in Mexico City (details of the location will be shared at the time of registration) and with a live broadcast for online participants.  

In the morning, there will be presentations on scientific publications and innovation. 

  • 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Mexico City)  
  • 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Bogotá)  
  • 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Caracas) 
  • 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Rio de Janeiro / Buenos Aires / Montevideo)  

Those participating in person will have the opportunity to register for workshops in the afternoon. 

We have such an interesting agenda this year that you won’t want to miss a thing! However, if you are participating online, you can save reminders in your calendar for each presentation so you don’t forget to connect to the sessions that most interest you. 

It’s already available! You can explore the sessions and each presentation by clicking this link. 

Click on this link to meet our speakers. 

MSF’s Scientific Days in Latin America are completely free. All you have to do is register by filling out the following form. We have limited space for the in-person event, so hurry up and register! 

Yes, both the scientific event and the workshops are open to anyone who is interested. We look forward to seeing you! 

Of course, it will be a multilingual event, with presentations in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, and there will be simultaneous interpretation in these languages both in person and in the online broadcast. 

Here, health professionals, researchers, and students gather to share ideas, experiences, and solutions to the humanitarian challenges facing the region.

Connect with us

Follow us in our social media and find out about news, research, and experiences from MSF’s Scientific Days in Latin America.