Genesis Rios: Go-Getter Takes on Latino Public Health

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With the examples of her hard-working mother and her brother who overcame leukemia as a child, Genesis Rios is a go-getter to the max.

Rios dives head-first into tough challenges and new experiences.

That includes: applying to programs like Americorps; teaching healthier lifestyles and disease prevention at a free clinic; and examining the health impact and educational potential of peer social networks among Latinos.

Rios, born in Moca, Puerto Rico, and raised in Chicago, is currently working on her master’s degree in public health in community health sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Because of her work in underserved Latino communities, Rios became interested in reducing health disparities and barriers in access to healthcare that U.S. Latinos face.

To further her experience and education, Rios applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program.

The Éxito! program, led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez at UT Health San Antonio with support from the National Cancer Institute, recruits 25 master’s-level students and professionals each year for a five-day summer institute and optional internships to promote doctoral degrees and careers in Latino cancer. A recent study found significant increases in summer institute participants’ confidence to apply to a doctoral program and academic self-efficacy.

“The [Éxito!] summer institute gave me confidence and motivation to apply to a doctoral program,” Rios said. “It also gave me a valuable network of peers that I can look to for support.”

She urged Latinos to apply to participate in the program.

“You are gonna love Éxito! and the people you meet!”

Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2018 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program at UT Health San Antonio, the headquarters of the Salud America! program. Apply now for Èxito! 2019.