Growing up in Texas with a family that whipped up delicious foods like chili using the stone molcajete, Vanessa Estrada knows the value of food in the Latino culture.
And she knows that food needs to be tasty and nutritious.
She wanted to bring that knowledge to others, so she became a registered dietician and earned a bachelor’s degree in community health education from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of the Incarnate Word.
She now teaches nutrition education seminars San Antonio as an adjunct faculty at UTSA and across South Texas, including her hometown of Carrizo Springs.
At the suggestion of a mentor and to advance her knowledge in her field, Estrada applied for the 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.
She lauds the program for exposing her to quality information from leading scientists and mentors about pursuing a doctoral education.
“After the valuable information provided to us [at Éxito! Summer Institute], I feel more confident about applying to a doctoral program,” Estrada said. “I feel I have the skills and knowledge to succeed.”
