As a first-generation Venezuelan and Latino immigrant, I grew up watching my parents work long hours while navigating financial and cultural challenges in a new country. Their sacrifices taught me resilience and the value of perseverance, but also the importance of giving back when you have the chance. Those lessons have guided every step of my journey toward medicine. At Chelsea Dermatology, where I work as a medical assistant, I’ve met patients who arrive anxious about their conditions or treatments. Taking the time to reassure them, answer their questions, and make them feel comfortable has shown me how much compassion matters in healthcare. I carry the same lesson from volunteering at Cass Clinic in Detroit, where many patients face financial barriers to care. There, I learned that even small acts such as listening closely and offering kindness can restore dignity and trust between the patient and provider. My passion for science has grown alongside these experiences. From conducting breast cancer research at the Kleer Lab to studying Minoxidil’s effects on estrogen receptors, I’ve come to see how discovery can directly impact patients. For me, medicine represents both the science of advancing treatment and the humanity of caring for people when they need it most. For me, empathy is the ability to see and feel the world from another person’s perspective. It means recognizing that behind every symptom or diagnosis is a person with fears, hopes, and a story that deserves to be heard. I have come to understand empathy not as an abstract concept, but as a daily practice that has shaped how I approach patients, research, and even my own challenges as a first-generation immigrant. One moment that stands out to me happened at Chelsea Dermatology, where I work as a medical assistant. A patient came in visibly nervous about a procedure. She asked question after question, her voice shaking with anxiety. I paused, sat down with her, and explained each step slowly, making sure she felt in control. By the end of the visit, she thanked me not for the medical care, but for taking the time to listen and treat her with patience. That moment taught me that empathy builds trust—the foundation of every successful patient-physician relationship. Volunteering at Cass Clinic reinforced this lesson on a larger scale. Many patients there struggle with financial insecurity and limited access to care. I remember a man who came in for help with a chronic condition. What struck me was not just his medical need, but how relieved he seemed that someone was finally listening without judgment. Empathy, in that moment, was about seeing him as more than his illness and offering him dignity in a system that often overlooks people like him. Empathy, to me, is not passive; it is active. It means using understanding to guide action for either calming an anxious patient, advocating for underserved communities, or remembering the human lives behind the science. In my future as a physician, empathy will not just be a quality I value; it will be the lens through which I care, connect, and heal.

I want to become a physician because medicine allows me to combine my passion for science with my dedication to serving others. What excites me most about this path is the chance to directly impact people’s lives in moments of vulnerability, while also contributing to advances that can improve care for entire communities. My journey has been shaped by research, clinical work, and service, but also by the financial and personal challenges I have faced along the way. Those experiences have not only made me more resilient but have also given me the empathy and perspective I hope to carry into my medical practice. As a first-generation Venezuelan and Latino immigrant, I have always understood the importance of resilience and opportunity. My family came to the United States seeking a better life, and I grew up watching my parents work tirelessly to provide for us despite financial and cultural barriers. Their sacrifices inspired me to work just as hard in my own path. At times, navigating school, work, and research without the guidance of family members who had gone through the process before me felt daunting. Yet being the first in my family to pursue medicine is a responsibility I carry with pride, knowing that my journey honors their efforts and paves the way for others in my community. This past summer, I conducted breast cancer research at the Kleer Lab, where I studied how molecular mechanisms influence disease progression. Alongside that, I pursued independent research investigating Minoxidil’s interaction with estrogen receptor pathways, blending cancer cell assays with computational studies. While I value the intellectual challenge of research, what I take away most is how closely scientific discovery and patient outcomes are connected. At the same time, I have worked for over a year as a medical assistant at Chelsea Dermatology, where I see the human side of medicine every day. From preparing patients for procedures to answering their questions, I have learned that compassion and trust are just as important as medical knowledge. Volunteering at Cass Clinic, which serves underserved patients in Detroit, deepened that lesson. Many patients there face barriers to care, and I saw how simply listening and offering dignity could make a difference. Reaching this point has not been easy. Growing up with financial challenges has meant constantly balancing work, academics, and research. There were times when I worried about how I would afford tuition and living expenses while trying to keep up with my studies. Working long hours as a medical assistant while taking a full course load was exhausting, but it also taught me discipline, persistence, and how to stay focused under pressure. More importantly, those challenges gave me a deep appreciation for the struggles patients face when financial barriers prevent them from receiving care. Because of these experiences, I know I will approach medicine not just as a science but as a human connection. I want to care for patients in a way that acknowledges their challenges, whether financial, social, or emotional. My own journey as a first-generation Latino immigrant has taught me the importance of resilience, empathy, and advocacy, and I hope to carry those values into my practice as a physician. For me, medicine is not simply a career goal—it is a calling to serve, to listen, and to make healthcare accessible and compassionate for all.

I want to become a physician because medicine allows me to combine my passion for science with my dedication to serving others. What excites me most about this path is the chance to directly impact people’s lives in moments of vulnerability, while also contributing to advances that can improve care for entire communities. My journey has been shaped by research, clinical work, and service, but also by the financial and personal challenges I have faced along the way. Those experiences have not only made me more resilient but have also given me the empathy and perspective I hope to carry into my medical practice. This past summer, I conducted breast cancer research at the Kleer Lab, where I studied how molecular mechanisms influence disease progression. Alongside that, I have pursued independent research investigating Minoxidil’s interaction with estrogen receptor pathways, blending cancer cell assays with computational studies. While I value the intellectual challenge of research, what I take away most is how closely scientific discovery and patient outcomes are connected. At the same time, I have worked for over a year as a medical assistant at Chelsea Dermatology, where I see the human side of medicine every day. From preparing patients for procedures to answering their questions, I have learned that compassion and trust are just as important as medical knowledge. Volunteering at Cass Clinic, which serves underserved patients in Detroit, deepened that lesson. Many patients there face barriers to care, and I saw how simply listening and offering dignity could make a difference. Reaching this point has not been easy. Growing up with financial challenges has meant constantly balancing work, academics, and research. There were times when I worried about how I would afford tuition and living expenses while trying to keep up with my studies. Working long hours as a medical assistant while taking a full course load was exhausting, but it also taught me discipline, persistence, and how to stay focused under pressure. More importantly, those challenges gave me a deep appreciation for the struggles patients face when financial barriers prevent them from receiving care. Because of these experiences, I know I will approach medicine not just as a science but as a human connection. I want to care for patients in a way that acknowledges their challenges, whether financial, social, or emotional. My own journey has taught me the importance of resilience, empathy, and advocacy, and I hope to carry those values into my practice as a physician. For me, medicine is not simply a career goal—it is a calling to serve, to listen, and to make healthcare accessible and compassionate for all.