MCG Admissions

• Graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor's in Neurobiology
• Serves as Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Co-President
• Is a Princeton in Latin America Fellow & a Gates Millennium Scholar

I am the second of five children of Mexican-immigrant farmworkers who moved to the United States in the late 80's and made South Georgia their home. My family and I lived in a migrant camp outside of Bainbridge and by the time I started public school as an elemetary age student, I spoke very little English. In second grade, I entered the Explo program for gifted children and went on to become the 2010 Bainbridge High School valedictorian. I graduated from Harvard in 2015 with a concentration in neurobiology. Within the past couple of years, I have helped to educate former child soldiers in Colombia through the Princeton in Latin America fellowship and I am currently working as a research assistant at Danimar Scientific. 

Each day has its own journey. Even though most of the week revolves around lecture, lab, Physical Diagnosis (PD), problem-based learning (PBL), and exams/quizzes, I think many of my peers would agree with me saying that no two days are alike. However, for the most part, a typical day consists of attending morning lecture, engaging in PD or PBL on given afternoons, and studying for the rest of the day. Physical fitness has always been a priority for me, so I try to exercise at least 3 times a week. 

I attended the United States Military Academy straight out of high school, but I withdrew towards the end of my "plebe" year primarily because of a change of heart. I say this not to boast, let alone steal any valor, but rather to demonstrate that I, too, have failed - as we all have. Leaving West Point marked a low point in my life - I never thought I'd "quit" something as major as college. Yet, I managed to turn this "failure" (and my many other failures) into a good learning experience and persevered. If dealt with properly, failure can be a wonderful teacher. The wisdom of learning from failure is incontroverible and will certainly leave one better off down the stretch. 

As cliche as it sounds, donning my white coat stands firmly at the top of the list. However, getting into medical school just edges a handful of monumental accomplishments that not only represent me but my entire family history. These milestones not only include graduating at the top of my class in high school (as well as my high school’s first Latino valedictorian) and getting into colleges such as West Point & Harvard but also serving as a role model to my hometown and disadvantaged youth and fulfilling my parent’s dream—the American Dream—for me and my siblings. “Repaying” my parents for their sacrifices through my personal “success” best encapsulates what I consider my greatest accomplishment.

My hard-working parents and their sacrifices have fueled every ambitious goal I’ve set in life. My desire to achieve the American Dream in their honor stands as a pillar for my dream to become a physician. Another pillar rises from my lifelong goal to serve the poor and underserved. One moment, in particular, captures an initial encounter with my calling to practice medicine. Several years ago, I volunteered as a Spanish interpreter in migrant camps throughout my native county. A short Mexican woman approached me and my partner PA, struggling to tame her two young boys. As the PA warmly asked the apprehensive patient about her concerns, my eyes fixated on the scrawnier of the two kids, now engrossed in the PA’s actions: déjà vu. Just fifteen years ago, I had been that child in the same clinics, same living conditions, with the same curious, brown eyes. As my older brother and I waited while our mother took advantage of her only medical care for the year, I was captivated by the stethoscope, the compassion, and the clinic. My passion for medicine stems from many other sources, but the moment of recognition in the farmworker clinics pinpointed my main inspiration for becoming a doctor. Additionally, witnessing my parents (and others like them) struggle to access healthcare has contributed to my career goal of helping reduce healthcare disparities.

The diversity here at MCG is robust. My classmates and I each have had incredible journeys, possess a rich array of talents and hobbies, and have experienced all the highs and lows of life. We are a large, multicultural class—190 students in Augusta and 40 in Athens—but we behave like a small, close-knit family. Students at MCG help each other, listen to each other, and are eager to learn about different cultures and lifestyles in order to provide better care to our ever-diversifying patient populations.

I still don't know what specialty I’d like to pursue, but neurology, emergency medicine, and internal medicine have caught my eye since the start of medical school. I hope to practice in Georgia and advocate for the Latino patient population, especially for farmworkers like my parents. In addition, politics has been on my radar since childhood. I’d like to become involved in local politics while I practice medicine and then (maybe) eventually work my way up the political ladder.

• Graduated from Mercer University with a degree in Chemical Commerce
• President of the Dermatology Interest Group
• Harrison Medical Scholar
• Medical Summer Research Scholar

I am from a small town in Southeast, Ga. I completed my undergraduate education in chemistry and business at Mercer University. After finishing school at Mercer, I worked for a year as a medical assistant for a dermatology group in Macon, Ga before starting school at MCG. During my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband and our dog. Family is very important to me, so finding time to do simple things with my husband and my parents is my favorite pastime. 

A typical day starts with a cup of coffee and an early morning study session before class. I like starting my day early, going to class, and then grabbing lunch with friends before afternoon studying.

People are often surprised to find out I am married. My husband and I met in high school and attended the same undergraduate institution before getting married in 2015. Although medical students live a very fast-paced life, several of my classmates are married and some have even begun little families. We are all grateful to have such wonderful support systems. 

I have always been interested in other people and their needs. I think a physician has a special role to not only aid in physical healing, but also to walk with people through some of their hardest endeavors. Physicians are caretakers that let others know they are not alone on some of life’s toughest journeys. I take the responsibility of being someone’s physician seriously, and I am humbled to be able to impact others in a way that is long-lasting and helpful.  

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the first-year faculty at MCG and my classmates. I attended a small undergraduate university and was nervous about the class size of MCG and the relationship I would have with faculty and peers in such a large class. However, my favorite aspect of MCG is the people and the atmosphere. The first-year faculty and my classmates have made my first-year of medical school a wonderful experience.

My role models are my parents because they have given me an excellent example of how to love people and how to work hard, which I hope to use as I enter the medical field. I am blessed to have such hard-working, dedicated role models at the other end of a phone-call for advice and wisdom.

My goal as a physician after medical school is to let people know I am their greatest supporter and cheerleader, and that I am their advocate. I hope through medicine I may be able to touch the lives of all types of people, and that my life will best serve those around me. Although I am not sure of the specific field of medicine I may practice, I know that my patients will be my biggest blessing.