Aleli Ayala-Marin: An Èxito! Grad Working to Study Health Disparities

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Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2013 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply by March 7, 2014, for the 2014 Èxito! program.

Alelí Ayala-Marín
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Alelí M. Ayala-Marín
Alelí M. Ayala-Marín

Alelí M. Ayala-Marín, a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, is proud of her Puerto Rican roots.

Ayala-Marín said her culture and heritage have made her attentive to the studying cancer health disparities in her home country, where she has earned an undergraduate degree in nutrition and dietetics and a master’s in public health with a concentration in epidemiology from the University of Puerto Rico (Medical Science Campus).

She is currently coordinating a pilot study, “Cultivando La Salud,” an evidence-based educational intervention designed to increase screening tests for breast and cervical cancer.

Ayala-Marín heard about the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program—which offers a five-day summer institute and internships to encourage master’s-level students and health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a cancer research career—from her mentor and former Éxito! alumni who encouraged her to apply.

She was fairly certain she wanted to pursue a doctoral degree, but she felt she needed more information about becoming a stronger candidate and the research paths available to her.

After attending the Éxito! Summer Institute, Ayala-Marín believes her goal of becoming a behavioral researcher investigating cancer prevention and control is obtainable, and has the tools to enter a doctoral program.

Éxito!, a program funded by the National Cancer Institute and directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, will select 20 master’s-level students and health professionals from across the nation to attend a five-day summer institute June 2-6, 2014, in San Antonio, offering research information, tools, tips, role models and motivation to encourage participants to pursue a doctoral degree and a career studying how cancer affects Latinos differently. Participants also are eligible to apply for one of five $3,250 internships. Apply here.

By The Numbers By The Numbers

25.1

percent

of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage

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