Isela Garcia: Passion for Improving Health on the Border

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Garcia Isela exito participant 2018
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Isela Garcia has a passion for dancing folklorico.

But she has an even stronger passion for solving health issues that affect the Latino population on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

As an undergraduate, Garcia worked on border health research projects in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. As a first-year MPH candidate at New Mexico State University, she is committed to research in Latino health disparities.

She currently works on cancer education programs for the border community, and continues to gain experience in cancer education and prevention programs.

To further her experience and education, Garcia 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] motivated me and showed me that it is possible to overcome many barriers in pursuing a doctoral degree,” Garcia said.

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.

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