Yesenia Calderon Leon
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Yesenia Calderon Leon lived in Mexico until age 10, when her family immigrated to California's Central Valley. As a child, she helped translate for her father at the local clinic, and that inspired her to work on health disparities. Yesenia received a degree in Biochemistry at UC Irvine.
Parris Diaz
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Parris Diaz was raised by his mother in South Central Los Angeles. He attended San Francisco State University, where he volunteered in schools that lacked health education classes. He also helped start a program to improve cultural competency in educators.
Kaylin Gonzalez
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Kaylin Gonzalez was raised by a single mother in San Diego. She attended Johns Hopkins University, where she majored in Public Health and received a Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Tracy Nguyen
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Tracy Nguyen was born in Inglewood to parents who immigrated from Vietnam. She attended UC Irvine, where she volunteered in the emergency department and at a free clinic for low-income residents. She wants to practice in underserved communities.
Alma Lopez
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Alma Lopez was born in Los Angeles, but spent much of her childhood in Mexico. The family returned to L.A. when she was 10. She attended UCLA, where she danced with Grupo Folklorico, and volunteered as a tutor in underserved elementary schools.
Felipe Ocampo
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Felipe Ocampo grew up living in a trailer on a dairy farm in California's Central Valley. He worked at an area primary care clinic, where he translated to ensure people in his community understood their health issues. He received a degree in Biology from CSU Monterey Bay.
Nguyen Pham
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Nguyen Pham Nguyen lived in Vietnam until he was 14, when his family immigrated to Gardena. Nguyen attended UCLA. While there, he mentored minority children interested in health care careers. He hopes to become a pediatrician. Nguyen received a degree in Biochemistry.
Micaela Torres
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Micaela Torres grew up in a low-income community in the Central Valley with her immigrant parents. She attended UCLA, and served as a camp counselor for L.A. high school students from underrepresented communities. She received a degree in Psychobiology, graduating Cum Laude.