What is your current title and role?
I’m a medical student at UC Riverside School of Medicine who will graduate in June 2024.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, in Southern California.
Tell us about your professional (medical, nursing, allied health, etc.) school?
I attended UCLA for college. I am currently in UC Riverside School of Medicine. Medical School has been a very academically challenging experience, however one that has also been extremely rewarding getting to live out my dream and treat patients from diverse backgrounds.
Tell us about struggles and challenges in achieving your goal and how you overcame?
Being the first in my family to pursue science and medicine has forced me to create my own path. The way that I have overcome my struggles has been by finding a solid support group of other first-generation doctors and by finding mentors that are willing to specifically help first generation professional school candidates. I also have a therapist who has helped me work through the challenge of being hard on myself and accepting that I am doing the best that I can with what I have been presented.
Please share with us about your family and your support group.
My family and support group of friends and colleagues have been the sole reason that I have made it this far.
Please share a memorable experience from your training that has stayed with you till today.
One of my most memorable experiences was when I had the chance to see my first patient by myself during my MS1 year. The patient told me that I reminded them of their child who had passed who also was interested in medicine. The patient ended the visit by telling me “I am proud of you and keep going you’re going to make it.”
Please share a memorable teaching moment.
A memorable teaching moment for me was when I had the opportunity to work with a neurologist to find a diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease.
Please share a highlight from your practice/current role.
One highlight from my experience as a medical student has been getting the chance to see patients and feel like a real doctor at times.
What do you like and dislike the most about working in healthcare?
I like working in healthcare to solve problems and work with diverse individuals with diverse problems. I dislike working in healthcare sometimes because its rigor requires you often to sacrifice time with loved ones
What are three things that you are grateful for?
Faith, Family, and Health
What excites you outside medicine?
Art and Traveling
What advice do you have for students interested in healthcare?
Take your time and enjoy your own journey. No medical school journey is alike, so you never have to compare yourself to what others are doing.
What do you think the student of today needs to be successful in matriculating and graduating from professional school (medicine, nursing, allied health, pharmacy)?
I think to be successful in making it to a professional you need resilience and confidence in yourself to make it all the way through. I also believe that you need humbleness to ask for help and accept criticism along the way.
How would you advise or guide students to develop leadership skills, community outreach experience, research opportunities and clinical shadowing?
I would advise students to look for community service that they are passionate about, which will not only allow them to give their best, but it will also be a great talking point in interviews. I also would advise taking leadership positions for things that you have a passion for which will make the role less of a hassle and more of an enjoyable experience.
How can we support and guide students to achieve good grades and be successful in standardized exams?
I think that we can help students to achieve good grades by first giving them a goal that they want to achieve and further offer support services which include mentorships, professional school tours, and finding specific tutors that can help students with taking standardize test taking skills.
