Kingchen Chang

Hello everyone! My name is Kingchen Chang, I’m from Clovis, CA and a rising fourth year student enrolled at UC Merced. My major is Biology with an emphasis on human biology. Currently, if given the opportunity, my goal is to become a radiologist. I find the idea of X-rays, MRI’s and whatnot cool; one of the more hidden ways a doctor can impact their patient’s health. For me, becoming a medical professional is one of the best and most direct ways to help others. I’ve seen people struggle to understand how medicine works. I want to fully commit learning about medicine and to becoming a trusted physician. From my experiences in volunteering at the California Central Food Bank, I have seen my community face challenges: I want to help by building their trust in medicine. I want to become the person they can talk to and discuss medical issues with – I want to be the medical provided they can trust.

Aisley Chavez

Hi everyone, my name is Aisley. I am a first-generation, Latina at Fresno State, majoring in Biology, with a focus on molecular biology and a minor in Spanish and Chemistry. I am from Fresno and my career goal is to become a physician. I aspire to have a career in medicine because of the experiences I’ve witnessed with my family and my community. As the daughter of parents who immigrated, I’ve been at their side through appointments, diagnoses, and emergency visits. At the age of 17, I became a caregiver for my mom who was diagnosed with cancer; I witnessed what the medical field meant in a whole different way. During this time, I was not only an advocate for my mom, but also the interpreter between the doctor, medical jargon, and her. As I immersed myself more in healthcare, I found myself helping others in my family with translation and noticed that the large number of patients who required assistance while visiting hospitals were people of color like me. I witnessed language and cultural barriers that my community faced during an appointments and emergency visits. Overall, I want to be a physician who understands, advocates, and can provide culturally competent care for my community.

Luis Flores Presas

Hi everyone! I am a first-generation college student majoring in Biology at Fresno State, I don’t have a concentration or minor. I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. I moved to Fresno when I was 15 and have been living here for the past 7 years. My dream is to become a doctor and help those in need. Growing up, my parents took me to a clinic where my doctor, who was from Nigeria, treated me from the ages of 4 to 15. He showed me kindness and compassion, and I remember asking him about whether it was possible for me to become a doctor. He reassured me that anything is possible as long as you put your mind into it, no matter where you come from. Being raised in a low-income area, I heard stereotypes that poor people are uneducated and destined to remain poor. I want to break that stereotype by being the first in my family to be a doctor and, hopefully, inspire others in my family and community to believe that anything is possible, no matter your background. I hope to serve underprivileged communities and build trust with patients who may feel overlooked in the healthcare system.

Giselle Fontes Ayala

Hello everyone! I am a class of ‘29, first-gen college student at UC Merced! I will be a second-year student, majoring in Biological Sciences, with an emphasis in Human Biology. My hometown is located in Modesto, CA. Born and raised in the Central Valley, my aspirations for becoming a physician are inspired by the cultural, economic, and systemic factors that play a role in the lifestyle and health of our communities. As a daughter of immigrants, I have a deep understanding of the obstacles that a majority of our communities face, including: language barriers, cultural differences, lack of knowledge, etc. All of this has instilled a sense of responsibility and eagerness to be part of a movement for change and positive impact in healthcare. In my experience, these barriers can produce a level of skepticism and mistrust in the healthcare system that leads to once-preventable diagnoses. It is my hope that as a pediatrician (I love working with kids), I can bridge these gaps for my community, as good health is the cornerstone to a happy life, and should be accessible and reliable for all people.

Gurleen Kaur

Hi everyone, my name is Gurleen Kaur. I am a first-generation college student majoring in Biology with a pre-med focus and a minor in Computer Science at Fresno State. I am originally from India and currently living in California. My goal is to become a cardiac surgeon. My passion for medicine comes from personal experiences, including caring for my grandfather during his battle with cancer and growing up with a cousin who has Down Syndrome. These moments shaped my desire to pursue a career where I can truly help others. Coming from a background where access to healthcare and education can be challenging, I am motivated to give back and support underserved communities. In my future career, my goal is to be a compassionate physician who builds trust, improves access to care, and inspires others to follow their dreams..

Taran Kaur

Hello everyone, I am Taran Kaur, and I am from a beautiful city just east of Seattle. I am a rising second-year student, majoring in Biological Sciences, with an emphasis in Human Biology at UC Merced. My dream career is to become a cardiologist and serve underrepresented communities. As someone who is fluent in Punjabi, I have assisted my grandparents in communicating with their doctors many times. I want to help bridge the language barrier in my community because I understand how it feels when you don’t know how to translate your concerns. As a future cardiologist, I will get the chance to help the San Joaquin Valley, while also expanding knowledge of cardiovascular disease prevention in the community. In the future, I want to help raise awareness regarding health conditions that are prevalent in the Central Valley, such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. I am interested in working with underserved communities to help increase health literacy as well as to build trust by providing accessible care.

Makayla Morocos

Hi everyone, my name is Makayla Morcos. I am a second-year Biology major at Fresno State on the pre-med track, with a career goal to become a physician. My passion for medicine is deeply personal. One of the experiences that shaped my decision to pursue medicine was losing my grandfather to a heart attack while he was in Egypt; he didn’t have access to the proper healthcare. That loss showed me the importance of access to quality healthcare and how devastating it can be when people don’t receive the care they deserve. Because of this, I am inspired to pursue medicine, to help others and serve communities facing barriers to healthcare. I want to become a compassionate physician who makes patients feel heard, respected, and cared for. In the future, I hope to make a meaningful impact by providing equitable care, building trust with my patients, and giving back to underserved communities here in the valley.

Klaryssa Muñoz-Gonzalez

Hi everyone, I am a Junior at CSU Fresno, pursuing a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I am a first-generation college student from Visalia, CA, aspiring to become an anesthesiologist. It wasn’t always like this, though. Doctors' offices were an interesting place for me when I was young, with my parents avoiding them completely. My grandma would take me as her designated translator at 6 years old. As a Spanish speaker, the doctor's office is a place where a lot of Hispanics don't feel comfortable or fully understood; this can cause real problems. When I was 13, I severed many cervical disks in my neck. This was the most vulnerable moment of my life, and the medical staff comforted me. This showed me the importance of healthcare professionals, not only in diagnosis and care, but also emotionally. Since then, being that support person for someone else, especially those who feel uncomfortable in medical situations, has been a dream of mine. To help someone feel safe during those vulnerable moments of their life, is something I aspire to be.

Suraj Prakash

Hi everyone, I am a first-generation, third-year biology student on the premed track at CSU Fresno, where I plan to minor in chemistry. I am from Fresno and aspire to become a surgeon. Growing up in this region, I have seen how limited access to healthcare impacts families and communities, which inspires me to pursue medicine. Coming from an underserved area has shaped my commitment to improving healthcare access and advocating for patients. Through my academics, research, and leadership experiences, I hope to provide compassionate, culturally aware care while helping reduce healthcare disparities and build trust within underserved communities

Juliessa Rodriguez

Hi! My name is Julissa Rodriguez, I am a Public Health major at CSU Fresno. I am driven by a lifelong love for learning, creativity, and human connection. While my path to healthcare evolved over time, my deep love for people inspired me to pursue an academic journey toward dermatology, with the core mission of helping individuals feel safe and comfortable in their own skin. Outside of school, I find balance through art, yoga, and spending time in nature. Guided by my faith, I approach my studies and my future career with an open, compassionate heart.

Omar Safi

Hello everyone, my name is Omar. I am a first-generation college student, currently a sophomore at Fresno State, majoring in Biochemistry. I was born and raised in Al Zarqa, Jordan. I moved to Chicago in 2018, then moved to Fresno in 2020. My dream career is to become a Cardiovascular Surgeon. What inspired me to choose this path was the sudden passing of my grandmother, made from a medical error that occurred during surgery. Some of the challenges that I have seen on my ride-alongs with paramedics, while gaining experience for my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, was how some patients often refuse help or assistance due to the lack of trust in our healthcare system and financial issues. I want to help bridge that gap between healthcare workers and patients to better enhance the overall wellbeing of my community. This means first building trust between our community and healthcare workers, starting from the EMTs and first responders, who serve as the foundation upon which trust builds within the broader healthcare setting.

Maria Sanchez Rodriguez

Hi everyone, I am currently a second-year Biology major in a blended MBt program at Fresno State. I am also a first-generation college student from Guanajuato, Mexico. I aspire to become a pediatrician and serve underserved communities. Growing up in Mexico, I witnessed how many families in my community struggled to access healthcare due to limited resources and financial barriers. It was common for people to delay or avoid care because they could not afford it. After moving to the United States, I also saw how language barriers could make healthcare even more difficult to navigate, and I often helped translate for family members during medical visits. These experiences showed me the importance of patients feeling understood and supported. My background has shaped my commitment to addressing health disparities and improving access to care. In the future, I hope to become a physician who builds trust within underserved communities, increases representation in medicine, and provides compassionate, culturally competent care. I also want to help open doors for students like me, those with big dreams but limited guidance, so they can see a path to medicine is possible. I want to be someone who not only serves patients but also encourages and supports the next generation to believe in their potential and know that they can achieve their goals.