Tagged: Manuel Marquez
The IFPE 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference
IFPE
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A former healthcare provider, Manuel Marquez holds an MD from UCLA Medical School. Now working in the travel and tourism industry, Manuel Marquez, MD, also serves as the treasurer and a board member of the International Forum for Psychoanalytic Education (IFPE)
The 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference of the IFPE took place October 25-27, 2018, at the Mayflower Park Hotel in Seattle, Washington. With the theme of “Unsilencing,” the Conference explored “the vicissitudes of expressing ourselves” with a specific focus on the gaps in language and the power of silence – although people may find such silences socially uncomfortable, silence may allow individuals the space they need to think and reencounter speech.
Under the direction of conference chair Rachel Newcombe, the 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference sponsored a range of presentations and panels. Topics included race, art, illness, family, feminism, and LGBTQ issues.
The Preservation of Panamanian Indigenous Tribes
Panamanian Indigenous Tribes
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Manuel Marquez, MD, shares his love of travel and history as a tour director and travel guide. Prior to entering his current profession, the Harvard graduate spent more than 25 years as a primary care physician, medical director, and executive officer with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and Buenaventura Medical Group. Throughout his career, Dr. Manuel Marquez has supported numerous organizations, including Native Future, a group dedicated to the support of indigenous tribes in Panama.
Established in 2004, Native Future works alongside three indigenous groups – the Wounaan, the Ngabe, and the Bugle – with the goal of improving education and protecting land rights. In addition to preserving the cultures of these native peoples, the organization strives to ensure that the precious ecosystems on which they reside are not lost to exploitative industrialization.
The land rights initiatives established by Native Future have enabled the high school graduation of a Wounaan man, whose testimony aided in the approval of Panama Law 72 to protect native land. The organization has also helped the Wounaan people map their lands and document their protection efforts against clearcutting and other damaging practices.
Thanks in part to the assistance of Native Future, three Wounaan communities have received government-approved titles; six more are awaiting recognition.
Packing for International Travel
International Travel
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A certified tour director, Manuel Marquez, MD, has guided travelers through numerous countries across South America, North America, and Europe. Manuel Marquez, MD, has also embarked on many international trips of his own and has accumulated a knowledge base not only of the destinations themselves but also of the necessary logistics a traveler should consider to make the most of their trip.
When visiting international destinations, there are a multitude of variables to consider. Packing can be especially challenging for someone who is not familiar with the climate or temperature of a new destination, so research is helpful. Travelers should also be aware of whether they should bring a power adapter, familiar toiletries, or other necessities that may be difficult to find in a particular location.
Most travelers also prefer not to be taken by surprise when it comes to clothing. It’s not necessary to bring an entire wardrobe; in fact, many find it helpful to choose numerous outfits for a trip and then bring half of what they have laid out. Items that should make the cut are those that the traveler can wear multiple times and layer to create different outfits.
The traveler should also take care to include clothing for different settings. Experienced travelers know to bring one nice outfit and at least one pair of sturdy shoes for every trip, regardless of itinerary.
Bulky items are best worn on the plane, and absolute necessities belong in a carry-on. This is true for medication, a change of clothes, and anything else one could not live without if luggage does not arrive at the same time as the plane. This may not happen, but it is always good to be prepared.
Benefits of Group Travel
Group Travel
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As a tour director with Insight Vacations, Manuel Marquez, MD, leads group motor coach tours across the United States, providing on-board commentary throughout the itinerary. During the journey, Manuel Marquez, MD, strives to help each traveler bond with others and make the most of the group experience.
Although many travelers are devotees of independent exploration, a group tour can offer many benefits not available to those who venture out unaccompanied. One of the major benefits is the convenience and comfort of allowing an experienced professional to make decisions about destinations and time frames. This is particularly beneficial when the tour guide is a local expert or has experienced the destination in depth, as such a person can provide a unique kind of informed insight.
The tour leader can also help the group to let go of old habits and embrace new experiences. A traveler may come to a destination that he or she would not have chosen individually, but that reveals unique insights about the country or culture that the group is visiting. A tour leader may also be able to connect the group with special visits or programs to which the tour company has access, though such experiences are not available to members of the general public.
Finally, the group tour provides each traveler with readily available companionship and community. Group members can bond over their visit to a grand and picturesque destination, share their reflections about the day, and even help one another to open up and make new connections.
Insight Vacations – Frogmore Plantation
Insight Vacations
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Currently serving as tour director and traveling concierge for Insight Vacations, Manuel Marquez, MD, provides motor coach tours of New England fall foliage, the Mississippi River basin, and Western national parks. Manuel Marquez has also directed tours in Cuba and in New Orleans.
Insight Vacations offers a Southern Grace tour for four days in New Orleans, where spectators visit several local historic sites. One of the stops on the Southern Grace tour in New Orleans is the Frogmore Plantation.
Built in the mid-19th century, Frogmore Plantation is an 1800-acre working cotton plantation that produces 900 bales of cotton per day with its modernized cotton gin manufacturing facility. This tour offers insight into the life of slaves and lessons on the Civil War. Listed as a “must see site” by Rand McNally, Frogmore has also received the Rural Tourism Award and was rated as one of the top three attractions for tourists in the Arkansas/Lousiana/Mississippi tri-state area by Southern Traveler Magazine.
Studies of Hydrothermal Systems Under Yellowstone National Park
Hydrothermal Systems
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Manuel Marquez, MD has had a lengthy career in health care management and currently engages with Travel Corporation-affiliated Insight Vacations as tour director. Among the trips he has led are those taking in the Southwest’s national parks, as well as Yellowstone National Park.
As reported in the New York Times, Yellowstone National Park stands as a hotbed of current research activity, as Danish and American scientists seek to map the system that controls flow of hydrothermal features such as Old Faithful. Research teams have undertaken helicopter flights above Yellowstone, with the aircraft equipped with a large-scale electromagnetic system. Acting in much the same way as an x-ray on the human body, the system pinpoints areas where heated water flows under the land surface.
An area of focus is in understanding major hydrothermal explosions that periodically arise in the park. These involve subterranean pockets of boiling water experiencing an abrupt pressure shift that turns the water into steam and creates activity such as geysers. Researchers expect that this project will further refine their knowledge of how complex volcanic systems operate.
Qualities of an Effective Tour Guide
Tour Guides
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Certified as a tour guide through the International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), Manuel Marquez, MD, has led groups in California and across the western United States. Manuel Marquez, MD, has also built his skills as a guide through familiarization tours and cruises in North America, Western Europe, Africa, and the Galapagos Islands.
A good tour guide needs to possess not only a love of travel and people but also the ability to make a trip fun and comfortable. Tour guides must be able to communicate clearly with a diverse group of travelers while also presenting information in an enjoyable and digestible manner. A good tour guide is a good storyteller, an engaging performer, and a positive personality that visitors will feel comfortable approaching
In addition, because travelers will want to know about local history and culture as well as the area’s best-kept secrets in restaurants and things to do, the guide must have an in-depth knowledge about the destination. A skilled guide can answer questions informatively as well as graciously, while conveying a personal interest in the material at hand.
Finally, the professional tour guide must be able to interact with travelers respectfully and warmly, regardless of the individual’s culture of origin. A talented guide can communicate in a culturally relevant manner and incorporate the norms to which the travelers are accustomed. This must all take place with an air of professionalism and a level of organization that earns the travelers’ respect.
What is a Sommelier?
Sommelier
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As a fluent English- and Spanish-speaking health care professional in Southern California, Manuel Marquez, MD, has served in a variety of settings, including clinical research coordinator at PMK Medical Group. Outside his professional life, Manuel Marquez, MD, is a wine connoisseur.
When dining at a fine restaurant, you may notice that a member of the staff apart from your server may come to offer you a selection of the available wines. This person is called a sommelier, and his or her job is to be an authority not only on the wines themselves, but also on how each one complements the meal.
A sommelier will be knowledgeable about the vintage and type of grape used in a particular wine, its region of origin, as well as its overall rating. By devoting oneself to this rigorous study, the sommelier is able to help patrons determine the best wines to pair with their dishes – knowledge that goes beyond the simple, “red wine with steak, white wine with fish” tropes.
So the next time you are in a fancy restaurant and the sommelier offers his or her guidance in picking out the perfect wine to pair with your meal, give it a try!
Two Wine Myths Debunked
Wine Myths
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Manuel Marquez, MD, has over 25 years of medical industry experience as a family practitioner, medical executive, and researcher. Outside his professional life, Manuel Marquez, M.D. enjoys a wide variety of leisure pursuits, including as an avid wine enthusiast.
There are almost as many opinions about wine as there are wine connoisseurs. With that said, it shouldn’t be surprising that there are many misconceptions about the age-old beverage. Here are two myths about wine that have been debunked by sommeliers.
Some hold to the notion that the bigger the price tag, the better the wine. This can be true, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. There are many factors that determine the price of a wine, such as if it is sold by a well-known vineyard or if it has been endorsed by a celebrity – neither of which have any real impact on the quality of what’s inside the bottle. Conversely, some wines from lesser known vineyards (often imported vintages) can offer a great deal of quality for the value. An Argentine Malbec, for instance, is a $10 red wine that delivers quality far beyond the price tag.
Another area of common misinformation is the best serving temperature of wines. One belief is that the best way to serve white wine is ice cold. This goes hand in hand with the misguided idea that red wine is best enjoyed only at room temperature. In truth, no wine should be served ice cold. Conversely, no wine should be served at room temperature. The ideal temperature for white wine is approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In the same vein, it’s perfectly fine to refrigerate red wine, as it will age much faster at room temperature, which may severely affect its taste.
Tips for Beginning Bowlers
Beginning Bowlers
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Having worked as a paraeducator for special-needs children in the Ventura County, California, public schools, as well as a physician and a tour director, Manuel Marquez, MD, is experienced in a range of professional fields. Outside of his work life, Manuel Marquez, MD, enjoys numerous sports, including bowling.
Bowling is a great leisure activity, but for those looking to become a little more proficient at the sport, the barriers to entry may seem daunting, particularly in terms of learning the basics. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as it looks. Here are just a couple of basic tips for bowling novices.
One of the most important but most basic concepts is visualizing your shot before you take it. It’s important to relax, breathe deeply, and focus on exactly where you want the ball to go. Use the arrows to help guide your shot.
It’s also important to choose the right ball. Picking one that’s too heavy can lead to a sore arm, but one that’s too light may not give you the pin action you want. Most men typically bowl with a 14-16 lb. ball, while most women use a 10-14 lb. ball. Go with the heaviest ball that can give you the speed you want.
Bowing is a simple skill to learn but a difficult one to master. With practice and proper form, however, your game can improve significantly over time.
Manuel Marquez MD 
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