Class of 2027
Hometown: West Valley, Utah
Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah
Bio: My name is Adrian Portillo and I am from West Valley City, Utah. I pursued an undergraduate degree in recreational therapy. Before medical school, I was working as an inpatient phlebotomist and as a recreation therapist. On my free time, I enjoy watching movies, hanging out with friends and family, and working out. By being part of the population health scholars program, I hope to learn more about how community dynamics affect health outcomes in varying patient populations. Additionally, I hope to understand more about healthcare disparities and inequalities within medically underserved populations. This will allow me to confidently care for a wider range of patients within my community. Currently, I am interested in many different medical specialities. However, in the future I do plan on caring for a diverse group of patients within a community hospital or clinic while also mentoring or teaching other students and healthcare professionals. A fun fact about me is that I am both a first-generation medical student and college student. Another fun fact is that I am a bone cancer survivor, which is what sparked my desire and motivation to pursue a career in medicine.
Hometown:
Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah
Bio:
Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico
Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah
Bio: Hi! My name is Bryanda, and I’m from Chihuahua, Mexico. I was a beneficiary of the DREAM act. I hope to meet people who are passionate about helping patients from underserved communities and those that help inspire change. We need to change the status quo and bring more equality to the US health system. In the future, I see myself lobbying for access to healthcare for undocumented immigrants as well as other important human rights causes. Two fun facts about myself are that I cry whenever I talk about something important to me, and I have two little kids. I’m so excited to meet everyone!
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Undergraduate Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Bio: I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and lived there until I went to college in Philadelphia. My parents moved to Utah during my Sophomore year of college and I have gotten to explore the state during my breaks for the past two and a half years. I am excited to learn how I can help individuals and the larger community and population as a physician. I am especially interested in how preventive health care and tools like FIT tests that can be used at home can help improve community health and wellness. Once becoming a physician, I hope to work with community organizations to understand the barriers specific populations help and find creative solutions to address these issues. I am interested in Internal Medicine as a specialty but am open to other specialties. As for fun facts, I have dual citizenship in the US and Italy and I have a twin brother.
Hometown: Sandy, Utah
Undergraduate Institution:
Bio: I hope to learn how to better address the healthcare needs of disadvantaged groups in the Salt Lake community. C. I see myself in the Salt Lake area. I enjoy gardening. I have lived in Argentina and Honduras.
Hometown: American Fork, Utah
Undergraduate Institution:
Bio: I want to learn more about determining the most effective interventions for a community and how to advocate for those on the policy level, as well as how to implement them in my own practice/a larger medical group. I would like to be a family practitioner in rural Utah or SLC. I was the bassist in a progressive bluegrass band and I love visiting southern Utah, especially Arches.
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah.
Undergraduate Institution: Pomona College
Bio: I'm from Salt Lake City, although I attended college in California and I've been living in San Francisco for the last three years, working in dementia and aging research. I'm hoping to be able to connect themes in population health to the classes I'm taking and the patients I am serving in student-run clinics, ultimately preparing me to be a physician who can assess how policy, socioeconomic factors, and community factors influence my patients' lives. I am excited to learn both with and from other students who are committed to pursuing one of the primary care disciplines. I'm also looking forward to the opportunity to design my own population health research project focusing on chronic illness and palliative care. I would ideally like to pursue internal medicine with a focus in palliative care, although I'm still exploring my many different interests. My two fun facts are that I am an identical twin with identical twin cats, and that my neighbors were a movie theatre and a mortuary for the last two years.
Hometown: Star Valley, Wyoming
Undergraduate Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Bio: Hi There, My name is Evan Kirk. I grew up in Star Valley, WY, went to undergrad in Boulder, CO to study mechanical engineering, and then moved to Lander, WY between undergrad and medical school. I am excited to participate in the Population Health Scholars program to gain a more holistic perspective on the social determinants of health for developing more informed and individualized care plans for my future patients. In the future I see myself practicing primary care medicine somewhere in the rural mountain west. In this area, I plan to incorporate my passion for the outdoors into my practice. Two fun facts about me are that I worked as a wildlands firefighter for two summers for the USFS after undergrad and that I volunteered with Lander Search and Rescue while living there.
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Undergraduate Institution: Brigham Young University
Bio: I was born in Murray, Utah; however, I grew up in Portland, Oregon. I am hoping to gain a deep understanding of population health, including its concepts, theories, and methodologies. I also aspire to develop specific skills relevant to population health research, analysis, and interventions. Additionally, I am excited about enhancing my professional development by participating in workshops, seminars, and conferences. Moreover, I am thrilled to explore how I can apply the principles I learn in this program within the community and in my future practice. I have not yet decided which specialty I want to pursue, but currently, I am leaning towards anesthesiology, particularly in OBGYN. Simultaneously, I have a strong desire to work with the LGBTQ+ community in some capacity. I speak Mandarin Chinese fluently, and I have a deep passion for plants!
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Undergraduate Institution: Colorado State University
Bio: I grew up in Portland, Oregon. I hope to gain a more holistic and comprehensive perspective of health, and of the factors that govern/ limit modern medicine so that I can provide my patients with the most equitable and informed treatment options I s.ee myself as a family physician, practicing integrative medicine that is focused on preventative care. I also see myself still traveling and adventuring and learning, just as I am today! I am a twin and I was born in the Czech Republic.
Hometown: Helper, Utah
Undergraduate Institution: Southern Utah University
Bio: I am from Helper, Utah. I hope to learn more about how we can make a difference in the healthcare system here in Utah. I see myself practicing somewhere rural, most likely primary care. I have a wisdom tooth that will stay lodged in my sinuses forever and that I have a size 15 shoe.
Hometown: Sandy, Utah
Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah
Bio: I've lived in Utah my entire life and I grew up in Sandy. I'm hoping that the population health scholars program can give me more insight and experience to help address the systemic issues in our healthcare system. I would also like to build long-lasting connections and friendships with like-minded people who have similar goals in medicine. In the future, I see myself working in internal medicine, pediatrics, or family medicine. I really like the idea of working with underserved populations and providing holistic and value-based care for patient's physical and mental health. My dream would be to open a clinic that provides comprehensive care for patients that includes preventative and value-based approaches. A couple fun facts about me is that I love to ski and that I also attended the U for my undergraduate degree!
Hometown: Sandy, Utah
Undergraduate Institution: University of Utah
Bio: My name is Nadia and I am from Sandy, Utah! I currently live in the Avenues in Salt Lake City. I previously worked with Intermountain for 3.5 years and lead out on a population research study of the pediatric population. I hope to make a difference by contributing to population health research as a medical student and come back to serve my community as an Intermountain physician. In the future, I see myself settled down and having a family while still maintaining a balance with a fulfilling and exciting medical career. Two fun facts about me are that I love all styles of dance and that I am a major foodie.
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Undergraduate Institution: California Baptist University
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