LCAT held the first annual National Latino Conference on Tobacco Prevention and Control in 2002. The purpose was to convene LCAT Fellows, Network members and others interested in Hispanic/Latino tobacco prevention and control for information sharing, training, skill building and networking.

In September 2004 LCAT held its 3rd National Latino Conference, "Tobacco Prevention: Reducing the Impact of Chronic Diseases", in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Twenty different track sessions were offered covering a range of topics including research, organization and mobilization, model programs, communications, policy advocacy, funding and industry practices.

The 4th National Latino Conference on Tobacco Prevention and Control is scheduled for September 15-16, 2005 and will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The theme of this year's conference is "Marketing Disease to Latinos: Advocating for Social Change". Every year the number of conference participants nearly doubles as the issue of how tobacco affects everyone's health is of more and more importance. This year LCAT expects to welcome over 600 participants in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The annual conference is significant in being the only ongoing, regularly-scheduled convening of Hispanic/Latino tobacco prevention and control practitioners and advocates from across the nation.

It provides continuity to the field in networking and learning that keeps attendees current in their knowledge.

Because it is a widely publicized, high-profile conference that draws leading national and international tobacco prevention and control experts for its program, it elevates the visibility and stature of Hispanic/Latino prevention and control.