Ashton Balarin

October 16, 2024

“You’re not gonna know until you try.”   That’s the motto Ashton Balarin’s parents used to grow her confidence, to try and reduce health disparities in her native Fiesta city of San Antonio.   Balarin is certainly putting that motto to work.   She graduated from UT San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in public […]


Arielle Guzman

October 16, 2024

From her supportive abuela to her two-hour-long big family dinners, Arielle Guzman feels a strong connection to her Mexican heritage.   So she knows very well that Latinos face big health obstacles.   This experience, and her own father’s struggle with multiple myeloma, inspired her to pursue a career as a culturally competent healthcare professional […]


Adrianna Acevedo-Fontanez

October 16, 2024

Adrianna Acevedo-Fontanez celebrates her Puerto Rican heritage through music and food, such as using “el castero” to stew rice or fighting for “el pegao.”   But she also knows that Puerto Ricans face dire health issues.   That is why, when she sees people in need, she helps them. Her empathetic spirit and hard work […]


Araceli Guzman

October 16, 2024

Araceli Guzman wants to make a difference for the Latino community.   The California native is off to a good start.   Guzman recently became her family’s first college graduate after earning a bachelor’s degree in public health promotion at California State University of Northridge.   Now she is working on a master’s degree in […]


Alejandra Mendez

October 16, 2024

Discrimination. Micro-aggressions. Going back to college with kids.   With a mother who overcame these hurdles as an immigrant to the U.S. from Honduras, Alejandra Mendez learned resilience.   Now Mendez always looks for opportunities for success, rather than possible barriers. Her optimism has enabled her to help people similar to her mother, conducting research […]