“As a student who aspires to become an orthopedic surgeon, I do not think that there is a better way to understand what goes into the holistic care of the athlete than doing so at the highest level, and I am grateful to be able to do so through this program.”

“What first inspired my interest in medicine is that my brother was diagnosed with leukemia. Those are my first memories of interacting with the health care system. Since then, I knew I wanted to go into medicine and be a doctor.”

“In a city as diverse as Chicago, health care should not be a privilege afforded by birthplace. Our communities thrive when every resident – regardless of origin – has access to the preventive care and support they need to live a healthy life.”

“I have a very strong passion for social justice. I want to do that work of reimagining what justice looks like and ensuring that people who have been victims of the system can now benefit from it in the future.”

“What I want to do is mostly in mental health for minorities because I know that a lot of minorities don’t have access to mental health resources, and some of them don’t even know they can access this.”

“I feel a lot of pride knowing that my four-year-old daughter is going to be at my graduation. That’s really meaningful to me— that I accomplished this while she was young and that she’ll know and see me as a nurse as she grows up.”

“When it comes to electoral participation, a lot of people may feel disconnected from government, and I find that disconnectedness and that disregard for the power of our voices especially prevalent among underrepresented communities. There’s a real power to be found when a person comes upon that realization that their voice can make a difference.”

“I am investigating toxicity from metal implants in the human body in the Regenerative Medicine and Disability Research Lab. As the population ages, these devices pose an increasing risk of heavy metal poisoning, and preventative measures must be studied.”