First Spanish Smoking Cessation Training Workshop for Medical Students Held
The Society of Latino Medical Students (SOL) at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Department of Family Medicine made possible the first Indianapolis training program for smoking cessation in the Spanish language. This workshop was held on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22.

Doctor Oscar Claros, a fellow of the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT) who has participated in the development of a culturally appropriate smoking cessation program for Hispanic/Latinos, was sponsored by the Department of Family Medicine (Javier F. Sevilla Martir, M.D.) and the State Department of Health, with collaboration of the Indiana Latino Institute, to provide a two days training program “Un Despertar Saludable” (A Healthy Awakening”).

This initiative was taken by the SOL as a response to the identified need for smoking cessation programs in Spanish that were not available, deciding to pursue training to be able to provide this service as a community outreach program and to offer a culturally appropriate program. The event was seen as a success and as a most needed step in providing care for the Hispanic/Latino community. Twenty trainees from around the state were present, including SOL members, individuals from the Indiana Latino institute, Minority Health Coalition, Health Net, and the Department of Family Medicine.

The next step as seen by the SOL members, is to scheduled the first four weeks program to provide service to the awaiting list of patients. Once the dates are determined, referral and scheduling will be offered by the Indiana Latino Institute.

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