Born in Mexico City, Beatriz Sosa Prado later immigrated with her family to Los Angeles.
Influenced by the many challenges that immigrants encounter once they come to the United States, Sosa Prado pursued educational degrees with aims of being an advocate for them.
Indeed, with the support of her family and husband, Sosa Prado earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in health science from California State University, Long Beach.
She went on to become a bilingual nutritionist who helps Latina mothers in Los Angeles.
Now ready to become a public health researcher and develop community-based interventions meeting the needs of Latinos in Southern California, she was encouraged by her mentor (America Bracho) to apply for Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program, which offers a five-day summer institute and internships to encourage master’s-level students and health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a cancer research career.
During the Éxito! Summer Institute, Sosa Prado was exposed to doctoral education resources and networking opportunities with well-established Latino researchers.
“I am convinced I belong in a PhD program because I have what it takes,” she said. “I know I am needed in my community, and I need to represent them.”