At this year’s Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) annual meeting — happening Oct. 23-26 in Baltimore,MD — one of those receiving a notable award will be the group LatinX in BME. Founded in 2019 by bioengineering professors Brian A. Aguado and Anna Porras, the fast-growing organization representing Latinx researchers in biomedical engineering (BME) will be recognized with the Diversity Lecture Award for impactful contributions toward improving gender and racial diversity in biomedical engineering. Yan Pacheco, a fourth year PhD candidate in the Hettiaratchi/Willett Labs at Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering, has been a part of the organization almost from the beginning. We caught up with him in advance of the one-day LatinXinBME Symposium, happening Oct. 23, 2024, which was supported by the Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering. Another event that Pacheco has had a hand in, the annual LatinX Social, takes place from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Knight Campus.
What is LatinXinBME, and how did you get involved?
Latinx in BME is now a nonprofit that serves as an online community founded by two professors, Brian Aguado and Anna Maria Porras, from UC San Diego and the University of Florida, respectively. They started it in 2019 because there wasn't much visibility or connection among Latinos in biomedical engineering. They began with a Slack channel and a Twitter account to build a sense of community, and it quickly grew. I joined in late 2019, I was around the 70th member, and now we have over 600 members.
What is your role in the organization?
I’m currently the Vice President. I started as a regular member, then moved to Communications Chair, followed by Social Chair, and now VP. Next year, I’ll step up as President. It’s been really rewarding to serve on the executive board since it was established.
How has your involvement in Latinx in BME influenced your work at the Knight Campus?
It’s shown me how to build community without just following existing structures. When I first arrived, I noticed there wasn’t an event for Hispanic Heritage Month, so with some encouragement, I organized a LatinX Social with Khaila Carlstrom, Assistant Director of Academic Administration. It’s an annual event, with good food, salsa dancing, and strong community participation. It’s rewarding to see that it has become a tradition others can carry forward.
What are your priorities when you take over as President of LatinX in BME?
My top goal is to continue building our symposium, which had its first in-person event last year. I also want to focus on brand building, expanding awareness of our work beyond academia, and possibly establishing a travel fellowship to support students attending the symposium. It’s about finding sponsors and making the organization sustainable and impactful.
How do Latinx in BME and the BMES conference overlap?
Though we’re independent organizations, we strategically hold our symposium right before the BMES conference (in the same venue). It’s a smart way to help attendees network in a smaller, supportive environment before the larger, more overwhelming BMES event. Last year, we had 92 attendees, and many wore our symposium lanyards during the BMES conference, which was a nice sign of connection.
What’s the broader mission of Latinx in BME?
Visibility is at the heart of it. For students, it’s powerful to see someone who looks like them succeeding in this field. Representation matters, and it can inspire both students and faculty. A key part of our brand is showing high school and undergraduate students that there are people like them in prestigious institutions, which creates a sense of belonging.
How has the Knight Campus supported Latinx in BME?
The Knight Campus Department of Bioengineering has been incredibly supportive from the start. They’ve provided financial sponsorship for our symposium, which helps cover costs like meals and awards. The visibility they gain through this partnership also reflects their commitment to diversity and inclusion. I’ve even seen students connect with Knight Campus just from seeing our involvement.
What would you tell someone in the Latinx or Hispanic community considering the Knight Campus?
The Knight Campus is a great place, no matter your background. It makes Eugene’s predominantly white environment more welcoming and provides strong support across the board. I’ve felt safe, supported, and valued here—not just as a Hispanic student, but as a person.
Looking back on your time at Knight Campus, what stands out?
I came here because it felt like a place where I could help shape the future. It wasn’t fully established, and I liked the idea of building something new. It’s satisfying to see how I’ve contributed to meaningful changes that have made a difference for others. I’ve also learned a lot along the way, particularly about academic administration and organizing events, which has been incredibly rewarding.
Thank you for your time, Yan! We’ll be in touch to share this story and look forward to connecting over social media while you’re at BMES.
Sounds great! I think sharing these stories is important, especially to show how Knight Campus actively supports diversity efforts.
To stay updated on the LatinX in BME Symposium, follow the organization on X and follow Yan Carlos Pacheco on X. To stay updated on BMES, follow the Knight Campus on X, Instagram/Threads andLinkedIn.
