UB GSPHA

We are thrilled to announce our 2023 Graduate Research & Networking Conferecne (GRNC) taking place Tuesday, August 15th, from 6-8:05 PM EST via Zoom. We hope you are able to join us in our celebration of this years theme ‘Culture of Innovation, Collaboration & Impact’.

Registration is required! Make sure to check your emails for attendee registration information once you RSVP. We look forward to seeing you all there!

We are excited to announce our upcoming Second Annual GRNC being held on Tuesday, August 15th via Zoom! (more detail coming soon!)

Whether you are interested in joining our GRNC as a student presenter, scan the barcode that best corresponds to you! All are welcome!

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

Happy Juneteenth! Today we celebrate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and memorialize those who fought for freedom.

In honor of that just passed, GSPHA is excited to announce our upcoming Voices for Diversity in Healthcare Series led by Distinguished Keynote Speaker - Dr. Dee-Ann Carpenter held on Monday, June 26th at 5PM EST via Zoom!

We encourage everyone to attend! Registration is REQUIRED!!

We are excited to announce our upcoming GSPHA General Body Meeting taking place THIS Wednesday, May 22nd at 5PM EST via zoom! JOIN us as discuss our plans for the Summer! Registration is REQUIRED! We look forward to seeing you there!

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Hemanta Adhikari, a Graduate Student in the Natural Sciences Interdisciplinary Master’s Program. Inspired by her childhood in Nepal as a refugee and witnessing the impact of language barrier in healthcare when she moved to US with her family, Hemanta aspires to be a doctor who faces and addresses the health disparities and disparities in health outcomes that she noticed impact many immigrant and refugee families in Buffalo, NY while growing up.

Hemanta believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM and Healthcare is vital for underserved patients because it provides cultural and immigration-specific perspectives for medical colleagues and culturally competent providers for patients. Having underrepresented students in STEM diversifies the workforce in America, home to many immigrants and refugee families and providing services that meet patients' social and cultural needs is essential.

In the future, Hemanta not only plans to expand her engagement with organizations, research, and community service, but she also aspires to travel to gain global perspectives since she believes becoming a doctor is not the only goal instead it is the refinement and continuity of learning and improvement that will allow her to serve her patients the best way possible as a future physician.

During the month of May, the GSPHA will be celebrating by amplifying the voices of UB students, faculty, and staff in STEM and healthcare across our social media pages. If you or anyone you know is interested please fill out the google form using the QR code!

Happy !! The GSPHA is devoted to recognizing, commemorating, and supporting Asian American & Pacific Islander communities and other marginalized groups.

This May and all year round, we celebrate communities! We ask you to join us in this celebration and continue to support and advocate for communities beyond this month.

We are excited to announce our upcoming GSPHA Prehealthfest Series: Crafting a Standout AMCAS Activities Section with Christi Candido, incoming MS1!! Please join us WEDNESDAY, May 3rd at 5PM EST via zoom as we discuss the best tips & tools for selecting activities and effectively reflecting them in your application such that will maximize chances of success!

We encourage you all to attend! Registration is REQUIRED!

We are excited to announce our upcoming GSPHA General Body Meeting taking place next Wednesday, April 12th at 5PM EST via zoom.

JOIN us as we plan upcoming events and share ideas for our next Prehealthfest Series happening later this month! Registration is REQUIRED!! We look forward to seeing you there!

We are excited to announce our upcoming GSPHA Prehealthfest Series: A Beginner’s Guide to Navigating the AMCAS with Alyssa Reese, MS1!! Please JOIN us next Wednesday, March 29 at 5PM EST via zoom as we share the ins and outs of the Medical School application and process!

We will also be holding our Interest Meeting and look forward to seeing you all there! Registration is REQUIRED!

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Valeria Márquez-Luna, a second year Medical Student and at JSMBS and LMSA President.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Janine Meurer, an MD candidate at JSMBS. Inspired by her involvement in coursework that ranged from human anatomy, biology, and the life science while growing up, Janine found her passion for women’s health and pursuing a career in medicine.

In the future, Janine hopes to involve her medical curricula around sexual medicine, a multifaceted and underresearched field. In doing so, she aims at choosing a speciality that best fits the way she practices sexual medicine for her patients.

To Janine, equity, diverse, and inclusion in healthcare and/or STEM means that open-mindedness, patience, and compassion are needed to understand the societal and systemic hindrances that leave these narratives out and create obstacles for a better quality of life, but most importantly do the work to fix these problems.

Janine’s advice to Latino/Latinx/Hispanic students looking to pursue careers in healthcare and/or STEM is to remain connected to the culture and places you grew up in. She believes that being able to speak another language and come from a different background is a wonderful thing that should be seen as more celebrated and even useful in the workplaces. Because of this, Janine finds it important to remain present and accepting of who you are since that is what makes you unique and will make your patients or clients look to you for your expertise.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Bryan Velez, a second year Medical Student and at JSMBS and LMSA Vice President. For Bryan, his journey in healthcare was more of a gradual discovery as he explored different careers and interests growing up but once he realized how much a career in medicine aligned with his interests and goals in life, he felt and is committed to pursue this.

In the future, Bryan hopes to work in underserved communities that have a lack of access to healthcare. This includes here in the United States as well as internationally. As he’s participated in medical mission trips as a student, he wants to continue this once I'm a physician to further his contribution.

To Bryan, equity, diverse, and inclusion in healthcare and/or STEM means providing an equal opportunity to anyone who has the dreams of being in healthcare. He believes that if it's the career you want, then the only barrier that should be between you and your aspirations is yourself. It's important for the younger generation to see people who look just like them in positions that they aspire to be in.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Dr. Pedro River-Hernandez the Associate Program Director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Clinical Fellowship Program.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Dr. Geovanny Perez, the Chief officer of Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine and Medical Director of the Lung Center at Oishei Children's Hospital.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Renato Quiñones, a second year JSMBS medical student.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Raquel Gomez, a second year JSMBS medical student.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Dr. Margarita Dubocovich, the Senior Associate Dean of JSMBS Diversity and Inclusion office.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Maria Wilson, an Inclusive Excellence Workforce Specialist at the Jacobs Office of Inclusion and Cultural Enhancement.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Dr. Sergio Hernandez, a physiatrist serving the Buffalo Community. Growing up in Miami, Dr. Hernandez was exposed to medicine an early age and felt inspired by the Cuban doctors who treated him and understood him culturally.

Dr. Hernandez empathizes the importance of representation in medicine. With him now serving his community of predominantly Hispanic patients, he can not only treat his patients but also help them overcome some of the barriers that Hispanic and people of color populations experience in medicine.

In the future, Dr. Hernandez, wants to continuing serving his community and working with human rights clinics for individuals that are seeking asylum.

Dr. Hernandez advice to Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic student is “Work as hard as you can; while things may have gotten better, there is still a degree of privilege and support to others that's not necessarily afforded to us”

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Marco Flores, a fist year Medical Student at JSMBS. Throughout his educational journey, he was inspired by his mentors around him that helped him find his passion of having a career in medicine.

In the future, Macro hopes to become a practicing physician in a specialty that I enjoy while inspiring other Hispanic people to chase their passion and goals.

Marco’s advice to Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic student is “It’s okay to do what your heart is telling you to do. Don’t be scared to take a leap at something that hasn’t been done in your family before.

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Jazmin Corral, PhD Biomedical Sciences student at JSMBS. In her undergraduate career, she realized that this career could have an impact in the lives of many people. Jazmin felt that being able to help people by contributing to science and providing valuable sources and information to the community inspired her to pursue a career in STEM

In the future, Jazmin would like to join a federal agency and continuing doing research to give back to the community by making important discoveries in science. Also, she would like to inspire other Hispanic people by providing them with sources and information to help them achieve their goals.

Jazmin’s advice to Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic student is “The path to become a scientist may be hard, there are days where you doubt if you really want to do it, but it is worth it. Never give up on your dreams, and do not let anyone discourage you. Although, the Hispanic representation in science in low, you can be part of it and demonstrate that we are capable of becoming great scientist. Always believe in yourself and enjoy every part of the journey.”

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic UB Graduate Students, Faculty and Staff by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice as part of our Representation Matters Initiative.

We would like to recognize Beatrice González, MS, the founder of the GSPHA, Founder, GSPHA Representation Matters Initiative, GSPHA Voices for Diversity in Healthcare Series & Prehealtfest Series. Beatrice brings tremendous experience in advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities, students with disabilities and students considered underrepresented in medicine. Her energy and passion come from a place of lived experience, as well as a strong desire to see growth and advancement in her community and all communities that may feel disenfranchised.

She has fought her entire life to be a physical representation to little Latina girls that need someone to look up to. As she began to be exposed to the injustices and inequities at an early age, and started to understand the impact, she began to fight to serve her community and dismantle the broken system.

Beatrice states to be able to appropriately serve and care for diverse communities, change needs to happen, by creating an inclusive healthcare system that allows physicians and healthcare workers to meet the demand and needs of every individual. She continues, this starts with earning the trust of our community, and building physician-patient relationships, which is why representation in healthcare is imperative.

Beatrice’s advice to Latino/a, Latinx/e and Hispanic student is “Be hungry—believe in your vision so much that you can see it, taste it, and smell it. Fight—when you at your lowest, remember your why and get back up and keep hustling. Trust Your Process— we may not see it, but God’s got you, and you got you so hold on to that and trust that.”

In honor of , the Graduate Student Pre-Health Association (GSPHA) will be celebrating Latino/Latinx/Hispanic UB Graduate Students, GSPHA members, faculty and staff on our Instagram & pages. Throughout this month of September/October, we want to highlight you and your journey!

If you or anybody you may know is interested, please submit the the following google form using the QR code or click the link in bio.