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Claire Alvarenga is the first in her family to pursue a degree in higher education. She is the daughter of humble immigrant parents – her father left El Salvador due to the Civil War and her mother left Mexico in hopes of a better life in the US. Growing up with immigrant parents, Claire has witnessed her parents struggle navigating the healthcare system and experience a societal lack of access to healthcare resources that contributes to feeling unheard and ignored. Her interests in primary care and preventative medicine have been strengthened from witnessing how her parents and patients have suffered as a result of the lack of access to primary care services, disregard for cultural humility, and mistrust between patient and provider contributes to the declining health of vulnerable populations. Since then, Claire has dedicated her life to learn the ways in which she can offer her skills to change this narrative for marginalized populations and to advocate on behalf of all patients, but especially for those who have no choice but to use a healthcare system that was not designed with them in mind. Claire graduated from UCLA with a degree in Anthropology while working as a medical scribe and volunteering as a Spanish interpreter and MA at a community health clinic working with medically underserved populations. She then moved to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a MA/Scribe at a primary care clinic prior to attending the University of Utah PA Program. She is on her way to become a primary care PA to help promote health equity to bridge these gaps between the status quo and high-quality care for underserved groups. |
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Karina Fasig graduated from Weber State University with a B.S. in zoology and a minor in chemistry at the age of 19. Before PA school, she worked for a few years as an inpatient PCT and then as a laboratory technician in a genetics laboratory specializing in prognostics for oncology patients. Proudly coming from a family of immigrant parents and grandparents who sacrificed so much to give her these opportunities, she is passionate about family medicine and providing quality medical care to patients in underserved and diverse communities. Upon graduation, she hopes to become a provider who can advocate for compassion, kindness, and the importance of building trusting relationships with her patients. |
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Safia Jan is a first-generation immigrant, grew up in Peshawar Pakistan, graduated from Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore and completed medical residency training in Hayatabad Peshawar. I am passionate about providing health care to urban and underserved communities. I chose UPAP for its mission focus and the continued opportunities to work with medically underserved communities. I love to spend time with my family hiking and camping. In my free time I love to bake and cook. |
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Darshan Singh graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. During this time, she worked as an inpatient PCT in Maternity and Same Day Surgery. She also had the opportunity to volunteer at a local non-profit health clinic in her hometown Salt Lake City for four years. Upon graduation, she hopes to become a primary care provider that will provide quality, holistic care to underserved rural populations. |
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