Leah Carrillo: From Ranching to Preventing Disease in San Antonio

Share On Social!

Leah Carrillo knows the value of hard work, thanks to diligent parents and plenty of sweat and tears on her family ranch in Leakey, Texas.

Carrillo is working hard today to prevent disease in San Antonio.

Currently a master’s-degree student at UT San Antonio, Carrillo already is actively supporting research projects to prevent cancer, obesity, and manage diabetes.

She wants to continue working hard to increase the health of her community by translating her growing knowledge and skills into effective, accessible health programs.

To further her training and education, Carrillo applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. The 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 to promote doctoral degrees and careers in Latino cancer.

Now Carrillo feels far more prepared to pursue a doctorate, she said.

“The [Éxito!] summer institute has motivated me to seek a doctoral program that fits my career interest,” she said. “The institute made me realize that my career as a researcher is a journey and that I should enjoy it.

“Also, the institute made me realize how important my culture is in today’s research and health interventions for public health.”

Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2017 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2018.