Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Liliana Ramirez Gomez, MD

Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is observed throughout the United States from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the history, culture, and uniqueness of those of Hispanic descent.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re honored to highlight the voices, culture, and cutting-edge work of researchers from Mass General Brigham with Hispanic roots.

Dr. Liliana Ramirez Gomez, is an attending neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital as well as a researcher working to identify preclinical biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias (AD/ADRD). A main focus of hers is on improving support for underrepresented Spanish-speaking individuals with dementia, including both patients and their caregivers.

Q: What does Hispanic Heritage mean to you?

To me, Hispanic heritage means “compartir,” or “sharing.”

From sharing food to spiritual practices, it means strong family connections, community, perseverance, hard work and resilience.

I am proud of my Latino heritage — our openness to sharing and being kind to our families.

Q: What are some customs or traditions you share with your family?

When I was still in Colombia, it was a tradition to get together with my family to have dinner every Sunday night at my parents' house. Being the youngest of nine siblings, I grew up close to each one of them.

For me, strong family connections and being a good example of hard work, responsibility, and dedication are the foundations of someone who can contribute positively to our society.

Q: What aspect of your heritage are you most proud of, and why?

I am from Medellin, Colombia, and one of the things that I feel most proud of is that it went from being known as ‘the most dangerous city in the world,’ due to its high crime rate, to becoming an incredibly innovative city.

The city has become a hub for technological innovation, and we have one of the best public transportation systems in Latin America.

Q: How has your cultural background shaped your approach to your research/work?

At MGH, I created a Spanish-speaking comprehensive neurology clinic to improve methods for providing culturally competent clinical care to underserved patients with dementia and other neurological disorders. 

This clinic aims to provide additional opportunities for neurology residents to train in delivering care to diverse and underrepresented populations. I firmly believe that promoting training in culturally sensitive environments will enhance access and quality of care for patients of diverse aging communities in the U.S. 

I also work in research at the Multicultural Alzheimer Prevention Program (MAPP) at MGH and the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. In these groups, I see participants who speak Spanish, and we evaluate their memory and cognitive trajectories over time, among other things.

My goal is to increase the participation of Latinos and other underrepresented groups in Alzheimer’s disease research.

In my own research, I develop interventions and lead therapy and caregiver skills groups with Spanish-speaking caregivers of family members with dementia. 

I am very active with the community, frequently participate in outreach events, and give talks regarding brain health and dementia. 

Q: Can you talk about your research focus?

My current research aims to combine a virtually delivered version of Mentalizing Imagery Therapy. This would include skills training for Latino caregivers on a comprehensive and accessible intervention as well as smartphone tools to assist them in that.

I enjoy serving the Latino community in the work that I do every day, and I am proud to work at a place like Mass General Brigham that values our heritage and all that we have to offer.