
Fond Remembrance of Those We’ve Lost

A beautiful ofrenda adorned with mementos and photos of loved ones who have died honors their memory in celebration of Día de los Muertos. The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix created the ofrenda as part of Hispanic Heritage Month, marking the second year for the tradition on campus.

The annual and traditionally Mexican Día de los Muertos takes place on November 1 and 2; those who celebrate the holiday create home altars to remember the dead and make traditional dishes. LMSA hosted a gathering to unveil the ofrenda October 11, providing pan dulce and coffee to those in attendance.
Emrie Tomaiko-Clark, a first-year medical student at the college, used the opportunity to honor her grandparents.
“I was very close with my grandmother, who passed in the last year. It was difficult for me, and I still miss her terribly,” Tomaiko-Clark said. “However, rather than grieve her death, I wanted to celebrate her life, which is what I understand to be the point of Dia de Muertos.”
Tomaiko-Clark placed a photo of her grandparents on the table. She said she enjoyed participating in the ofrenda, stating that she liked the idea of having her relatives at the school watching over her.

All students, faculty and staff across campus are invited to place photos of their loved ones on the ofrenda, which is located on the fifth floor of the Health Sciences Education Building. The ofrenda will be displayed until November 15.
Gillian Reynoso, a second-year medical student at the college and one of the co-presidents of LMSA’s leadership team, explained the importance of the ofrenda being established as a campus tradition.
“Learning about different backgrounds increases our cultural competency as future physicians,” Reynoso said. “I believe that participating in these cultural traditions helps people of any background feel welcome.”
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.