Even more impressive than the beautiful clothing and festive music from her native Guatamala, Mariana Arevalo already has a strong resume of work on research projects to improve the delivery of services to disadvantaged people.
Arevalo, who is currently studying for a master’s degree and has been working in cancer research at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., for the past five years, credits much of her early success due to her mentors. They have been instrumental in her development into a professional and have encouraged her to dreams and aspirations of becoming a Hispanic cancer control and prevention researcher.
She heard abouÉxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training—which aims to increase diversity in Latino health disparities and cancer research by encouraging Latino master’s-level students and master’s trained health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a career in research—from a colleague. The colleague was an alum from the Minority Training Program in Cancer Control Research (MTPCCR) alumni, anÉxito!sister program in California.
Arevalo jumped at the chance to join theÉxito!Summer Institute in June 2011 for the many opportunities she would have to meet future mentors doing research in cancer control focused on Latino health disparities.
“Éxito!was a boost of confidence and a tremendous encouragement for me to apply to doctoral programs. Now more than ever, I’m confident that Latino researchers are not only needed in our field, but we can make a difference in improving the health of Latinos in the U.S.,” she said. “Éxito!gave me leverage, resources, and lots of moral support to continue in my path to a doctoral program.”
