Juan Carlos Argueta-Rodriguez
My name is Juan Carlos Argueta-Rodriguez, I’m a 4th year student at SFSU majoring in Psychology and Cell & Molecular Biology. I’m originally from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, however, since enrolling in college, I have been living with family in Hayward. I took a Psychology class in high school that changed my outlook on STEM and declared Psychology as my major, with the goal of a career in mental health. My experiences with a Psychology major introduced me to psychiatry, which motivated me to change my career goals and pursue medicine and become a psychiatrist. however, I am open to learning about all areas of medicine. Outside of the classroom, I have worked as a research assistant at the Time Lab in the Psychology Department at SFSU and I am a licensed pharmacy technician (CPhT) in California. My passion to work in the Latinx community stems from my diverse background and childhood, being the child of an Argentine mother and a Salvadoran father. I hope to bring a unique blend of my
upbringing and education on my path to study medicine.
Alexis Ayala
Hello, my name is Alexis Ayala. I am currently completing my 3rd year at SFSU. I am majoring
in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and hoping to attend medical school in the future. I aspire to a career in obstetrics/gynecology. There are many elements that have contributed to my dream however, my passion for helping others is the principal reason. I want to make a change in my community by helping women of all backgrounds have a healthy life. I want to be part of the solution in ending racial and economic disparities that many, unfortunately, face. My main goal as a doctor is to deliver satisfaction and quality care to many patients. Being the first doctor in my family will make a positive impact by showing other individuals in my family and community that we are capable of accomplishing any dream we have, including the medical field. I hope to continue gaining experience and knowledge from this program and building new
connections in order to succeed.
Kamillah Felix
Hi, I’m Kamillah Felix, a fourth-year Biology major with a double minor in Computer Applications and Chemistry at SFSU. I was born and raised in Hawthorne, CA where I witnessed health disparities tearing away at my community. I aim to integrate my love for sports and science to pursue a career in sports medicine. I intend to bridge the gap between underserved populations and access to healthcare by opening a health center that provides affordable and accessible primary care services to people in my community. “As a product of my environment,
it’s my responsibility to give back and strengthen those around me. It’s not as simple as wanting to give back, but needing to give back because my community deserves to be educated and empowered to take control of their health.” As a strong believer in healthcare as a right, not a privilege, I know my purpose is to be on the front lines of the battle for health equity.
Perla Gomez
My name is Perla Gomez Olguin and I’m a first-generation Latina, majoring in Biology with a focus in Physiology. I’m passionate about increasing representation and inclusivity in healthcare. As an ambassador for the Health and Wellness Program, I advocate for all aspects of health and wellness to students on campus. In addition, I am part of Latinas in STEM to increase Latina representation in STEM academia and the workforce through community out-
reach. I am a mentor volunteer at Mission High School in SF to provide year-round mentorship
to seniors and offer networking opportunities with STEM professionals to the club members. After graduating SFSU, I hope to gain more clinical experience by becoming a medical assistant before applying to medical school. I would like to earn leadership roles and expand my multidisciplinary skills by advocating for a Global Public Health paradigm shift to build medical facilities and clinics in rural areas that hold the medical and humanitarian resources that a community needs in order to live a healthy life.
Allison Hernandez
My name is Allison Hernandez. I am a first-generation college student and an incoming senior at San Francisco State University, majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. I was born and raised in California and also raised in Peru. Being the oldest in my household, I have accompanied my parents to almost every checkup and have helped translate for
nearly everything. Additionally, being part of a low-income family, there have been times when obtaining proper healthcare resources was complicated. This has sparked my interest in pursuing a career in medicine because I have seen my parents struggle with microaggressions and the language barrier, and have personally struggled with terrible physician care and interactions. This is a recurrent issue that Latino and other underserved communities have to deal with, along with feeling misheard and fearing any healthcare-related interactions. With that said, my goal is to provide a safe environment and build genuine connections with underserved communities, ultimately prioritizing and advocating for their needs
Marlen Nunez-Tamayo
Hello, I’m Marlen Nunez-Tamayo, a second-year Gator at SF State! I am majoring in physiology and plan to attend medical school. I believe it is important to have a background in public health in order to provide my future patients well-rounded care. This will give me an opportunity to give back to my own community and continue to work in Oakland, CA. I have grown more interested in substance use medicine and how we can improve harm reduction in different ways that are patient centered. This is important to my core values, which I want to implement as a physician: caring for patients as a whole person, not just care about their symptoms. I have an interest in family medicine but look forward to learning about many medical specialties. I plan to continue networking and studying hard, but also getting as much experience as I can!
Jesus Ovalle
Hi, I’m Jesus Ovalle, a rising JR at SFSU pursuing a degree in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and two minors: Chemistry and Theatre Arts. I was born and raised in the East Bay and aim to see myself and other underrepresented students in medical careers; he is an aspiring psychiatrist who wants to support people in crises while also advocating for their rights. He wants to provide people with the knowledge and support they deserve. These intentions to help and advocate for patients stem from the lack of visibility he felt growing up as a person of color. Furthermore, through research and exposure into the many -isms present within medicine, he is committed to reforming the medical field to bringing more awareness to mental health, and patient advocacy. Ultimately, I want to become a medical practitioner whose patients know they can rely on him. I hope to utilize the skills I receive at LCOE APP to become a better skilled student and future physician in the medical field.
Isabella Ramirez
Hello, my name is Isabella Ramirez. I am a rising junior at San Francisco State University, majoring in cell and molecular biology with minors in Spanish and in public health education. I am from San Bruno, California, and am an aspiring physician-researcher. My interest in medicine and research stems from the experiences I have had after many of my close family members had been diagnosed with cancer. I strive to merge my interest in biomedical research
with my passion for addressing and advocating for public health equities in our communities and in the medical care system as a pediatric neonatologist. I would like to work to eliminate language barriers in patient care, and to research the ways that diseases and illnesses are disproportionately affecting Latinx and communities of color and what we can do to prevent this from further occurring. I want to provide quality and equitable patient care while working with patients and their families to support them and their access to treatment plans.
Erica Tate
Hi, I’m Erica Tate. I’m a first-generation college student at SFS majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology, and a minor in Computer Applications with a certificate in Data Science and Machine Learning for Biotechnology. I am a proud Black, Mexican American born and raised in Bakersfield, CA. I learned about injustices women from both of my communities, face in industries like healthcare. My passion for social justice and helping marginalized people grew and became an integral part of why I want to pursue medicine. Many women of color have testimonies of not being taken seriously or feeling ostracized in decisions pertaining to their health and bodies, predominantly in white male spaces. As a woman of color, I want all women to feel safe, included, and respected when it comes to their health. I aim to be an OB/GYN as my primary career goal. However, I hope to use my computational skills to work on research that addresses women's health issues. I’ve learned that if you want to see change, you have to be the change, therefore I want to become a source of support and inspiration to other women that look like me.
Carmen Vargas Velazquez
Hello! My name is Carmen Vargas Velazquez, and I am a first-generation college student at SFSU. I am currently in my third year, majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. My interest in science grew during my senior year of high school after taking my first psychology course. Once we began learning about the brain, how our eyes worked, and about clinical studies, I realized pursuing a career in medicine interested me. I decided to major in Biology but now feel like I have learned so much more. Using what I have learned prompted me to join several clubs and committees, mentor other underrepresented students, and work in a research lab. As my journey continues, I hope to gain more exposure and learn as much as possible so that I can contribute to growing 6.9% of Hispanic physicians in the United States and help mend the gap in health disparities for marginalized groups in the future.