L.A. Care's Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program provides eight students full medical school scholarships worth nearly $428,000. This program takes away a huge debt for community-minded physicians that can force them to choose high-profit positions over service in low-income areas.
Now in its seventh year, the program awarded four scholarships to Estrella Ramirez, Monica Valle, Sergio Vazquez, and Lewis Williams, who are attending Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. The other four scholarships went to Diana Castro, Anthony Jones, Kennedi Randolph and Brenda Vazquez, who are attending David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
About the 2024 Scholars
Diana Castro
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Diana was born and raised in Los Angeles. She graduated from UCLA in 2020 as a Neuroscience major and Art History minor. As a student, she helped conduct research into cancer screening disparities in underserved communities. One of Diana’s missions is to improve education and health care access for underserved communities through mentorship and community engagement.
Anthony Jones
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Anthony was born in Los Angeles, and his parents raised him and his three brothers in different areas including South LA, Westchester, and Inglewood. In 2022, he earned his PhD in molecular pharmacology at UCLA. Anthony has spent more than 2,000 volunteer hours working in disadvantaged communities, including at a non-profit community center that provides medical services to people in South L.A.
Estrella Ramirez
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Estrella and her two brothers were born and raised in Los Angeles by a single Mexican mother who worked two jobs to keep a roof over the family’s head. Estrella worked to support herself while attending Cerritos Community College and later California State Long Beach, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Estrella is dedicated to improving health outcomes through culturally competent care in South L.A. communities, having witnessed how difficult it can be for such communities to access care.
Kennedi Randolph
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Kennedi was born in Riverside and raised in Los Angeles. She is a first-generation college graduate along with her older sister. Growing up, Kennedi witnessed the health disparities in her community and that sparked her interest in medicine. Kennedi attended UCLA and graduated with a degree in biology. While at UCLA, she conducted research analyzing the impact of accent bias on student evaluations of teaching. Kennedi has more than 400 hours of community service working in under-resourced communities.
Monica Valle
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Monica was born and raised in El Monte to immigrant parents from Mexico. Recognizing that factors like race, socioeconomic and immigration status can hinder access to quality healthcare, she was inspired to pursue a career in medicine. After graduating from El Monte High School, Monica continued her journey at Georgetown University. Monica aspires to become a physician that is not only culturally competent, but also deeply attuned to the struggles of her community, aiming to provide the best healthcare possible.
Brenda Vazquez
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Brenda grew up in East Los Angeles in an immigrant family. As a teenager, her family moved back to Mexico, but she stayed in LA with extended family to continue her education. Brenda graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in psychology. Brenda has been working as a research associate at the Ziegler Lab in the UCLA department of Neurology. She is committed to supporting her community and advocating for her future patients, emphasizing the important of Latino representation in medicine.
Sergio Vazquez
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Sergio and his two siblings were raised by immigrant parents in South LA. He says his family frequently postponed routine health care due to barriers like time, cost, transportation, and health literacy. Sergio says witnessing health inequities in the inner city profoundly shaped his aspiration to become a physician and social justice leader. Sergio balanced multiple jobs with a rigorous pre-med curriculum at Dartmouth College, and has clinical experience at Cedars Sinai and L.A. County General Medical Center
Lewis Williams
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Lewis was raised with two of seven siblings in a low-income, single-parent household in Bellflower. He joined the military after high school, becoming a sergeant in the army. While in the military, Lewis went to Excelsior College in New York, where he graduated with a BS in Biology. He later received a second bachelor's and then a master’s in biomedical science, plus a master’s in public health. Lewis hopes to work in healthcare policy to improve access to care, incorporating aspects of LGBTQ health into his practice.
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Meet last year's L.A. Care medical school scholars - the sixth class of the Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program.
2022 Scholarship Recipients
Meet 2022's L.A. Care medical school scholars - the fifth class of the Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program.
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Meet 2021's L.A. Care medical school scholars - the fourth class of the Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program.
2020 Scholarship Recipients
Meet 2020's L.A. Care medical school scholars - the third class of the Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program.
2019 Scholarship Recipients
Meet more inspiring young health professionals. Learn about the second class of the Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program.
2018 Scholarship Recipients
It began with these eight dedicated individuals who want to make a difference for their communities. Learn about the first class of the Elevating the Safety Net Scholarship Program.