Litiana Asiasi

Hello, I am a first-generation college student, currently a third-year Biology major with a concentration in Physiology, along with minors in Chemistry and Public Health. I was born and raised in Fremont, CA, in the East Bay. I aspire to become a physician, with a particular interest in obstetrics and gynecology or pediatrics. My motivation to pursue medicine is deeply rooted in my experience as the eldest daughter in a Polynesian household, where I took on significant caregiving responsibilities from a young age. This role shaped my commitment to helping others and sparked my passion for healthcare. My interest in women’s health is inspired by the strong women in my life, as well as a history of reproductive health issues across generations in my family. Similarly, my interest in pediatrics reflects my experience as an older sister and my desire to support children and families during some of the most critical stages of life. Finally, my identity as a Pacific Islander plays a major role in my goals. Pacific Islander communities in the Bay Area face significant health disparities, including limited access to quality care and poorer health outcomes. As a young Polynesian woman pursuing medicine, I am committed to understanding the broader social determinants of health and becoming a culturally competent physician who can serve diverse populations, especially my own community.

Aliyah Contreras

Hello! I am a first-generation Latina from Sebastopol, CA. I am currently in my second year at SFSU pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. I aspire to continue my education and become a pediatric or general surgeon, drawn to the field by the opportunity to make a direct, life-changing impact on patients and their families. Growing up in a community where healthcare was not always equitable, I developed a strong passion for medicine and service. I am especially motivated to serve lower income and underrepresented communities, where compassionate and skilled care can significantly improve health outcomes and overall quality of life. Through my journey in medicine, I hope to help bridge healthcare disparities, empower families with better resources, and contribute to building a more equitable future for the next generation.

Taylor Davis

Hello everyone, I am currently a 3rd year Biology student with a concentration in Physiology at SFSU. I was born and raised in Oakland, CA and hope to pursue a career in pediatric medicine. As a black woman who grew up with a black woman as my pediatrician, I have grown to recognize the impact of seeing black representation in the medical field firsthand. My goal is to one day be part of this representation and be an advocate for all BIPOC patients.

Melannie Garcia

Hi, my name is Melannie Garcia! I was born and raised in San Francisco and am a daughter of an immigrant who instilled in me a strong work ethic and determination. I am a current undergraduate student studying Cell and Molecular Biology and Public Health at SFSU. My professional goal is to become a Cardiologist. I interned at UCSF and studied the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain. My personal goal is to advance equitable access to health care for underrepresented and immigrant communities. I am proud to be bilingual in Spanish and English and enjoy going on hikes around Marin with my French bulldog, Louie.

Lineth Izaguirre Casanova

Hi everyone, I am a second-year Cell and Molecular Biology student at SFSU. I am a first-generation college student, originally from Mexico, and currently living in San Francisco. My goal is to attend medical school to become a pediatric surgeon. Through my own experience moving to a new country, I have experienced how difficult it is to navigate the healthcare and educational systems due to language barriers. I have also continued to see this struggle while working in a pediatric clinic, where I help Spanish-speaking families communicate their concerns to the doctors. Because of my background, I have learned how important mental and physical well-being are to ensure people feel understood and supported beyond their symptoms. I want to provide quality care to underserved communities and help make healthcare more accessible.

Cristofer Leon

Hello! I am a fourth-year student majoring in Biology (Concentration in Physiology) with a minor in Chemistry at SFSU. I was born in Berkeley but spent most of my life living in a rural town in Oaxaca, Mexico. I am also the first in my family to graduate from high school and attend college! My goal is to become a physician who serves the low-income and underrepresented populations in the Bay Area. Growing up in Mexico, I witnessed how the lack of resources and access to healthcare affected the community I love. I am a firm believer that patient populations should be represented by physicians who can authentically understand their cultural and social backgrounds.

Victoria Leon

Hi everyone, I am a first-generation college student, and a rising sophomore majoring in biology with a concentration in physiology. I am originally from Sacramento but am studying at SFSU. My career goal is to become a neurosurgeon. My interest in pursuing a career in medicine is deeply rooted in my belief that representation matters. Growing up, I often accompanied family members to medical appointments where I helped translate, and complete documents. One experience that had a lasting impact on me was meeting a Latino physician who could communicate directly with my grandmother in Spanish. Seeing her excitement and relief at being understood inspired me to pursue a career where I could provide that same sense of comfort and empowerment. Additionally, being raised by an immigrant single parent, in a low-income household has given me insight into both the strengths and shortcomings of the healthcare system. I have witnessed how medicine can bring hope and healing, but also how negative experiences can lead to fear, and mistrust in healthcare providers. These experiences have motivated me to work toward rebuilding trust and ensuring patients feel respected, heard, and safe. I am passionate about not only representing my own culture in medicine, but also learning about and respecting the diverse backgrounds of others.

Ariba Manjra

Hello, I am a first-generation immigrant student. I am a junior studying Cell and Molecular Biology with minors in Chemistry and Computing Applications. I was born and raised in South Africa before immigrating with my family to the United States. My personal familial experiences coupled with where I grew up, sparked my interest in medicine. I am looking forward to graduating and attending medical school where I can start my path exploring different specialties with deeper knowledge and hands-on experiences. Currently, my interests are internal medicine, anesthesia and surgery. Visiting multiple medical and dental appointments as a translator with my mother allowed me to witness the sacred relationship between physicians and patients, and the difficult situations that exist in the healthcare system. This was the moment I decided to delve into the pre-med pathway and aspire to become a physician advocate. Additionally, certain diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cholesterol impact South Asian Indians at a growing rate which sparks my interest to research this area with my cellular knowledge and computational skills. I aspire to become an accessible and empathetic healthcare provider for my future patients, so they feel heard while giving back to my parents and my community.

Maya McCartney

Hi everyone, I am a 1st year Latina at SFSU majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Computing Application. I live in San Jose, CA but grew up in the East Bay. My dream career is to be a Dermatologist or a Plastic Surgeon because of my love for beauty and art, but I am still exploring other specialties. I am inspired to pursue medicine because I loved understanding how things work scientifically and helping others. Growing up, I noticed my family faced medical issues ranging from diabetes to complex heart disorders, and cancer. I grew up most culturally in touch with my Latino side of the family which helped me understand the struggles related to language and cultural barriers. As I got older, I began to understand that Latino and other people of color (especially immigrants) face many healthcare disparities compared to other communities. This realization influenced my senior year research project on why Latino’s were disproportionately affected by healthcare accessibility. As a future Latina doctor, I hope to help decrease the barriers to healthcare due to language and cultural barriers. Ultimately, I hope to make an impact by helping my future patients feel comfortable and safe knowing that I have their best interest in mind.

Josiah McGrew

Hello! My name is Josiah McGrew and I'm a student at SFSU majoring in Cell and molecular biology. I'm on the premed track with the goal of heading into the medical field. As of right now, I'm excited for what this program holds and the things we'll be exposed to! Thank you for the opportunity!

Jessica Ngoc Lien

Hi everyone! I am a junior at SFSU majoring in biochemistry. I grew up in Oakland, as the oldest daughter in an immigrant Vietnamese family and am a first-generation college student. From a young age, I often translated for my parents during medical visits, trying to make sense of complex information while navigating a system I couldn’t understand. Those moments shaped my sense of responsibility and showed me how clear, compassionate communication matters in healthcare. I carried that perspective with me when I later faced my own health challenges. That experience was physically and emotionally difficult. I gained a deeper understanding of how isolating and confusing it feels to navigate a diagnosis without proper guidance. I want to become a physician, in specialties such as surgery, gastroenterology, or anesthesiology, where I can be present for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. More importantly, I want to help communities like mine that face language and trust barriers in healthcare. I hope to increase representation and build trust between patients and providers. I want to be a doctor who listens carefully, explains clearly, and advocates for every patient

Emilio Ramirez

Hello everyone, I am currently enrolled at SFSU, majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and minors in Computing Applications, Special Education, and Chemistry. I’m from San Bruno, and my career goal is to become a neurosurgeon. My interest in medicine is shaped by both my academic experiences and my desire to better understand the human body at its most complex level. Studying physiology has deepened my curiosity about how the brain and nervous system function, which is what draws me toward neurosurgery. Growing up in a diverse community, I am aware of the disparities that exist in accessing quality healthcare. These experiences motivated me to pursue a career where I can contribute through technical skills, compassion, and understanding. I hope to combine my passion for science, technology, and service to provide meaningful care to patients while contributing to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.

Esmeralda Ramirez

My name is Esmeralda Ramirez, I am a mother, first-generation college student, Bay Area Latina native, and future physician scientist. I am studying Cell and Molecular Biology with a minor in Public Health at SFSU. I am also a research scholar, researching how RNA overexpression affects cell differentiation, in hopes of understanding its potential role in stem cell regulation. I have supported patient care in the emergency room in San Francisco's Mission District, where I worked with underserved communities, as well as witnessing the challenges many communities, especially my own, face in healthcare. Being exposed to the healthcare system has strengthened my commitment to use both medicine and research to improve patient outcomes for underserved communities and expand access to equitable healthcare to all. I am a mom to a beautiful daughter, who keeps me going even when my journey gets hard. I want to be a part of the data showing teen mothers who got a college degree and an MD/PhD. Having my daughter watch every step I take has truly been one of the best parts of my journey to medicine. I know that she is watching and learning that, like me, she can do ANYTHING she sets her mind to!

Emely Rodriguez Alvarado

Hi everyone! I am a rising third-year student at SFSU majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and minoring in Race and Resistance Studies. I’m a proud firstgeneration Latina from Oakland, CA, aspiring to attend medical school to become a pediatrician or OB/ GYN. My interest in pursuing a medical career stems from growing up in a low-income, Spanish-speaking household and experiencing the need to help my parents navigate doctor visits as a translator. These experiences exposed me to the language barriers and limited access to culturally-competent healthcare that many patients face. As a future healthcare provider, I aspire to build trust with patients, support improving access to care for all, and, especially, advocating for often underserved communities.

Camila Sainez

Hi everyone, I’m a first-generation, third-year Latina majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Human Biology and a minor in Public Health. I’m from San Francisco, specifically from the mission, and my career goal is to be involved in medicine and see what specialty I’d like to focus on. At this time, I’m interested in family medicine, labor and delivery as well as pediatrics. I’m drawn to a career in medicine because I grew up in an under-served community along with a single mother who immigrated here with my abuelita. I always translated and help communicate when we went to doctor’s appointments especially when my abuelita started going to the doctors to get her weekly check-ups. My background aligns with my goals in making a change in under-served communities and breaking barriers in patient care. I want to be a bridge of comfort to patients and feel a strong connection with those I aspire to serve. As a first-gen Latina physician, I hope to build trusting relationships with my patients and community and provide inspiration to future generations of physicians.