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Nicole Whan

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Anatomy
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics
  • Russian
  • Volunteering
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Health Sciences

Bio

Going to college is the start of a long professional journey for me. I plan to earn my bachelor's degree in a health and science-related field and continue on to medical school to ultimately specialize in pediatric endocrinology. I have been considering this career as my dream from a young age because I want to be a professional that can understand patients on a deeper level. Through my 17-year experience of living with and managing type 1 diabetes, I aim to be the person in whom juvenile patients can find feelings of reassurance, comfort, and understanding, with a degree and qualifications to help. My fascination with medicine and science has grown exponentially over the course of my entire life. From 9th grade to senior year, I have taken classes that strengthened my passion for science. In college, I want to expand on the things I already have core knowledge in such as neurogenetics, anatomy, and epidemiology, yet have the option to venture into parts of pre-medicine that are unfamiliar to me. I will take action to be exposed to research and opportunities that will enhance my learning experience thereafter. In an educational environment that embraces new ideas and promotes growth in all areas of life, secondary education is the perfect way to continue discovering subjects I love. Outside of school life, I envision myself dedicating time to volunteer work and while interacting with people from my culture in a diverse city. I know that my passions are the future of the world, and I am determined to achieve my aspirations in college.

Education

University of Nevada-Reno

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2027

Majors:
  • Public Health
Minors:
  • Biology, General
GPA3.9 GPA

West Career & Technical Academy High School

High School

2019 – 2023

GPA3.9 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
University of Nevada-Reno, George Washington University, Boston University, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Majors of interest:
Medicine, Public Health, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Human Biology
Medical school interest:
Yes

Career

  • President of AHEC Student Ambassasors

    Non-Profit Organization Management · High Sierra Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Student Ambassadors

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Shadowing Clinical Research in Psychiatry

    Medicine · Oasis Clinical Research

    Jan 2025 – Jan 2025

  • Expanding the Pipeline of Graduate Research on Alzheimer's and Dementia Scholar

    Research · George Washington University, Boston University, Framingham Heart Study,

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Academic Mentor in the Residence Halls

    Education · University of Nevada, Reno

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Physician Shadowing Experience

    Medical Practice · Trails Family Medical; Dr. Bikas Sharma.

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

  • Endocrinologist Shadowing Experience

    Medical Practice · The Docs; Dr. Asheesh Dewan

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2022

  • Cashier

    Retail · Jones Market & Deli

    Jan 2020 – Jan 2022

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Pediatric Endocrinologist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Entrepreneurship
Diabetes Impact Scholarship
Living with Type 1 Diabetes for 17 years has quietly shaped every decision, routine, and dream I have carried. It has taught me new forms of resilience, compassion, and the impact of having someone who understands your journey. As a third-year public health major on the pre-medical track, I am learning to intertwine my lived experience as someone with a chronic condition with the broader systems that shape healthcare. My goal is to attend medical school in 2028 and pursue a career as a pediatric endocrinologist, where I can foster community, advocate for patients, and support individuals with autoimmune conditions as a medical professional. Before attending university, I found an incredible community within the Nevada Diabetes Association. There, I volunteered as a counselor at their summer camp programs and participated in countless community events. These programs have shown me how meaningful it is to mentor younger generations with diabetes and to nurture connections with others affected by autoimmune conditions. I hope to recreate the same feelings of comfort, reassurance, and understanding that come from communities in my medical practice. Once I become a doctor, I aim to foster not only a sense of belonging but also representation in the exam room. During my time at the University of Nevada, Reno, I founded UNR DACE - Diabetes Advocacy, Community, and Education. Our organization provides community and support to students with diabetes and their allies. We volunteer in the pediatric departments of our local hospital to speak with families whose child has just been diagnosed with diabetes, offering empathy drawn from our own lived experience. We also host fundraising events to support families in Reno and rural Nevada who may not have access to diabetic supplies. When I was first diagnosed, my family managed my diabetes without health insurance for years. I understand the pressure of rationing insulin and supplies daily, and I have seen the financial strain it puts on a family. Because of this experience and my public health background, a major goal as a physician is to advocate for patients facing similar challenges by collaborating with non-profit organizations that support people with autoimmune conditions. I also plan to continue my involvement with the local diabetic community throughout my educational and professional career. As I advance into my chosen field, my mission is to bring empathy, representation, and advocacy into medicine while encouraging patients to find community. Having depended on medical care and technology for nearly my entire life has shown me the challenges and disparities in the system, but it has also solidified my determination to be part of what makes the hardships easier to address. As an endocrinologist, I will be a professional who understands the daily realities of navigating a chronic illness and one who empowers patients to embrace their diagnoses.
RELEVANCE Scholarship
For the past 16 years, I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition that has never left my side and has quietly shaped every decision, routine, and every dream I’ve carried. Whether it was through syringes, insulin pens, continuous glucose monitors, or through insulin pumps, managing this illness from such a young age meant growing up faster than most. While other children worried about homework or soccer practice, I was learning how to count carbs, adjust insulin doses, and ensure my blood sugar didn’t drop dangerously low in the middle of the night. For me, diabetes isn’t just a medical condition; it has influenced my future career path by intertwining my personal life with healthcare and medical technology. It has taught me discipline, strength, and that ambition is needed to excel in every endeavor that comes my way. At the same time, I was being raised in a single-parent household by a parent who worked tirelessly to ensure I had the care and support I needed, often sacrificing her own well-being for my health. The challenges we faced weren’t just related to diabetes—they were emotional, financial, and deeply personal. For years, we navigated my condition without health insurance -- rationing insulin and supplies daily with the emotional toll of uncertainty hovering over us. My mother had to put so much trust in school nurses, caregivers, and other adults to take care of a life-threatening condition while she was at work or studying. As I reached the end of my adolescent years, another reality set in; the education needed to pursue my dream career in medicine. My experiences have guided me to want to be a doctor who understands more than just the human body, but also the lived experience of a person with a given medical condition. As a public health major on the pre-med track, I am learning to connect the dots between medical knowledge and the broader systems that shape healthcare. I believe my journey -- growing up with type 1 diabetes, overcoming the financial and emotional hurdles of a single-parent household, and still choosing to fight for a future in healthcare -- gives me a unique perspective. It fuels my commitment to addressing disparities in chronic illness care and ensuring that no patient feels overlooked or powerless. Receiving the RELEVANCE Scholarship would not only support my educational path, but also serve as a reminder that our struggles are not setbacks -- they are sources of strength. Challenges are what make us human and remind us to keep our personal purpose close to heart while actively shaping our future. I am determined to become a physician who listens deeply, advocates fiercely, and treats patients with empathy and reassurance that they are not facing their challenges alone.
Skin Grip Diabetes Scholarship
Winner
Nicole Whan Student Profile | Bold.org