2024 Scholarship Awardees

Antony Alvarado is a native to Wilmington, California, having been raised by his mom and sister, and a graduate of the University of Rochester, where he studied Biochemistry and Studio art. At the ages of both 9- and 16-years-old, Antony and his family navigated the challenges of his diagnosis with primary and metastatic brain cancer. Antony’s personal health challenges shaped his academic and career pursuits to care for future pediatric and brain cancer patients,  as well as advocacy in holistic healthcare to underserved communities.

He serves as the class president of the Class of 2027, the final cohort, of the Charles R. Drew University/UCLA Medical Education Program cohort. Since beginning medical school, Antony has become involved in organizing community outreach with the CDU/UCLA cohorts, being a founding member to UCLA’s La Cosecha, and founding executive board member to UCLA’s Latino’s in surgery and now executive board member of UCLA’s American Association of Neurological Surgery chapter.

Beyond his leadership positions, Antony is involved in research with the UCLA neurosurgery department on health disparities and clinical case research and hopes to eventually focus his work on children and adolescent neurosurgical oncology care. In both being a Wilmington native and recognizing the impact his mentors and personal medical care team have had in his life since his first cancer diagnosis in 2010, Antony enjoys serving as a mentor for underrepresented youth in Wilmington and surrounding communities, who are interested in a career in healthcare related fields.

In his spare time, Antony enjoys working out, photography and art show opportunities, and gardening in his Wilmington home with his mom, Zoila, and dog, Cooper.

My name is Caitlin Tong, and I grew up in Rosemead, CA. I attended undergrad at UCR and am now a second-year osteopathic medical student at Western University of Health Sciences. I am passionate about outreach and free clinics serving immigrant communities in the San Gabriel Valley, as well as mentoring high school students from underserved areas. In my free time, I enjoy cooking Burmese food and playing video games like Stardew Valley.

Daniel Mashiach is a second-year medical student at Western University with a passion for service and research. Since 2019, he has led UCLA students in mentoring residents at drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. His most recent research focused on enhancing treatment options for hemophilia patients by comparing the effectiveness of medications. In his free time, Daniel enjoys playing basketball with friends and spending time with his wife and one-year-old child.

I am a proud Mexican-American born and raised in East Los Angeles. This community is filled with beautiful culture but lacks many resources for future generations to succeed. Growing up, I did well in school. I worked hard because of the work ethic instilled in me by my parents and not because I wanted to pursue higher education. I had plans to work as a handyman with my dad

or go to community college to try and play soccer. My goal was to become a professional soccer player. Thanks to the amazing and inspiring teachers I met in high school, they convinced me to

apply to four-year universities. At UC Irvine, I fell in love with medicine.

Volunteering at a free community clinic in Garden Grove and Tecate, Mexico highlighted Latinos’ disparities. Hearing about patients’ struggles and seeing tragic health conditions firsthand inspired me to be an agent of change. Currently, I am a third-year medical student at USC. I am privileged to be attending an institution in my hometown. Most of my training is at the county hospital where my parents have been patients. I am blessed to be in the position I am.

Judy Kim is a fourth-year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences, aspiring to pursue a career in emergency medicine. She earned her B.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and M.S. in Global Medicine from the University of Southern California. Judy is passionate about advancing healthcare access and addressing health disparities, combining her clinical interests with a dedication to community outreach and advocacy.

Lilly Jimoh, a Los Angeles native, has a longstanding passion for healthcare and a commitment to serving underserved communities. After earning her undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Dance from the University of California, Riverside, Lilly worked as an Analytical Chemist and Clinical Coordinator at UCLA where she gained valuable experience in patient communication and care coordination in challenging clinical environments. Motivated by her desire to make a greater impact in public health, she pursued dual Master's degrees in Biomedical Science and Public Health at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU).

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lilly joined the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where she played a key role in organizing and coordinating free school-based health clinics. These clinics provided critical services to vulnerable populations, further solidifying her dedication to public health.

In Fall 2023, Lilly joined the inaugural class at CDU’s College of Medicine, where she is currently a second-year medical student. She serves as Class President for the Class of 2027, Co-President of the Dermatology Interest Group, and a delegate for the CDU chapter of the American Medical Association. As an aspiring dermatologist, Lilly is passionate about leveraging her public health expertise to educate and advocate for communities of color, particularly those disproportionately affected by healthcare disparities.

A second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine, Martin Vazquez, has a commitment and appreciation for diversity, volunteering, and

mentoring. In 2017, Mr. Vazquez graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a BA in Chicana and Chicano Studies and BS in Biology. While an undergraduate, he

served as the programming director for the Latino Student Health Project, where he helped plan health fair events both in Los Angeles County and across the border in Tecate, Mexico. After graduation, he completed an informal post-baccalaureate program through UCLA and UCSD Extension while working at the Venice Family Clinic, a Federally Qualified Health Center. He also earned a Master of Science in Medical Sciences at Western University of Health Sciences.

His academic and career pursuits have displayed a fervent commitment to health advocacy in underserved communities. As a medical school student, he has volunteered at several clinics

for underserved populations and giving back to the unhoused population in downtown Los Angeles. Being part of the inaugural class Vazquez helped establish both the Latino Medical Student Association and the Family Medicine Interest Group, where he serves as the co-chair and treasurer respectfully. Vazquez is dedicated to creating a pathway for future medical students. He serves as a mentor for various programs which aim at providing mentorship for underrepresented youth in Southern California who are interested in a career in healthcare.

Oswaldo Garcia was born and raised in South Gate, CA. He earned his B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA. As an undergrad, he learned how health disparities afflict marginalized populations and joined volunteer organizations with the intent of making a meaningful difference in the way healthcare is delivered in his communities. Now Oswaldo is a third-year medical student at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He is actively involved in research and with LMSA and is passionate about mentorship.

I am a secondary-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University. I am a daughter of indigenous Guatemalan immigrants who grew up living below the federal poverty line. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, a few blocks from the Los Angeles General Hospital, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology at UCLA. During my undergraduate studies, I volunteered for five years with Venice Family Clinic, a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Following post-graduation, I became a medical scribe and research coordinator for the FQHC clinic in East Los Angeles. My experiences continue to fuel me in pursuing medicine and wanting to give back to my community. I never imagined I would be pursuing medicine and serving communities like my own. Thank you for investing in my education and community.

As a 2nd-year medical student in the CDU/UCLA program, Vincent Chang has committed to broadening his clinical skills through classes and volunteering at free health fairs. In addition, he has been researching pre-operative anxiety and teaching lifesaving skills with Stop the Bleed. He is excited to continue developing and sharing these skills at home to youth and community members to ensure that there is health education in medically underserved communities.