Thanks to her mother’s hard work, independence, and resilience, Sandra Garcia Camacho is poised to make an impact for Latino health.
Garcia Camacho grew up in Yauco "The City of Coffee" in Puerto Rico.
She completed her bachelor’s degree in natural sciences with a concentration in biomedicine at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. She then pursued her master’s degree in public health with an emphasis in biostatistics at the Medical Sciences Campus in Puerto Rico.
She wants to conduct research in chronic disease, and looks forward to addressing research gaps in the study of polycystic kidney disease.
To further her experience and education, Garcia Camacho applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program.
The Éxito! program, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez at UT Health San Antonio with support from the National Cancer Institute, recruits 25 master’s-level students and professionals each year for a five-day summer institute and optional internships to promote doctoral degrees and careers in Latino cancer.
“Éxito! had a motivational role guiding the next steps in my career. The program strongly encouraged me to apply a doctoral degree. Also, [it] gave me the confidence that I have the necessary skills to do a doctoral degree,” said Garcia Camacho.
She also had some advice for those thinking of applying to the program.
“If your interest is to complete a doctoral degree or you have doubts about doing it or not, Éxito! will clarify all your concerns and give you the motivation and confidence to do it.”