My name is Rosa Perez and I am a graduate Physician Assistant (PA) student and mother committed to building a career in healthcare that centers compassion, equity, and service. My journey to PA school has been shaped by resilience, perseverance, and a deep understanding of the barriers many patients face when accessing quality care. As a parent, balancing the demands of graduate medical education while raising a child has required immense discipline, sacrifice, and determination. I have learned to manage time efficiently, advocate for myself and my family, and persist even when circumstances are challenging. These experiences have strengthened my empathy and reinforced my desire to serve underserved and vulnerable populations as a future PA. I am passionate about working in community-based and underserved healthcare settings, where I can support patients who face social, financial, and cultural barriers to care. My lived experiences allow me to relate to patients on a personal level, particularly women, parents, and families navigating complex healthcare systems. Receiving scholarships would significantly reduce my financial burden and allow me to focus fully on my clinical training, academic success, and professional development. I am deeply motivated to give back to my community, advocate for health equity, and use my education to make a meaningful, long-term impact in the lives of others.

• Dermatology Medical Assistant

  Hospital & Health Care · Basko Dermatology

  Jan 2021 – Jan 2022

• Pediatric Medical Assistant

  Hospital & Health Care · Healthy Beginnings Pediatrics

  Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

• Pharmacy Technician

  Pharmaceuticals · Walgreens

  Jan 2017 – Jan 2020

• Medical Technologist

  Hospital & Health Care · Northwestern Medicine

  Jan 2020 – Jan 2021

• Laboratory Technologist

  Hospital & Health Care · CellCarta

  Jan 2020 – Jan 2021

• Community Health Worker

  Hospital & Health Care · CVS/Aetna

  Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

• Advocacy
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy
• Entrepreneurship

• Cheerleading

  Junior Varsity

  2011 – 2012

• Tennis

  Varsity

  2012 – 2015

• Research Student

  Northern Illinois University · Biological and Physical Sciences

  2018 – 2019

  Research topic:

  Plastic Degredation

• Education Influencer

  Youtube · Videography

  2020 – Present

• Student Member

  Volunteering · Alpha Phi Omega Eta Chapter at Northern Illinois University

  2015 – 2019

  Mission:

  Community Service

• Student Volunteer/Translator

  Volunteering · Northern Illinois University - Huskie Alternative Breaks

  2016 – 2016

  Mission:

  • Provided educational exposure to grade school students at a community grade school in Managua, Nicaragua • Collaborated with teachers and volunteers to provide educational lessons to local students in art education, mathematics, reading, and science to students in Spanish • Worked as a team with local community members and contractors to renovate the local community grade school • Tasks included sanding down walls and steel framing, painting walls, cleaning desks, and sweeping floors • Led stations during recess and interacted with students during soccer, painting, and hopscotch

• Fellow

  Volunteering · Northern Illinois University

  2015 – 2016

  Mission:

  Huskie Service Scholars Fellow

• Rehab and Women's Health Unit Volunteer

  Volunteering · Rush University Medical Center

  2017 – 2018

  Mission:

  • Provided empathy and support to patients through engagement of thoughtful conversations • Relayed patient and family requests to appropriate hospital staff members • Distributed meals during dinner in a timely manner to patients and collected trays • Supported and assisted nursing staff, cleaned medical rehabilitation equipment, escorted, and transported patients throughout the hospital, checked in visitors into census • Ensured safety of patients by monitoring alerts, maintained timely communication with staff, alerted staff by telephone when visitors arrived

• Mentor

  Volunteering · Northern Illinois University

  2018 – 2019

  Mission:

  Community Service - Huskie Service Scholars