Jackeline Ruiz: Compassion Drives Goal to Boost People’s Health

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Jackeline Ruiz of Los Angeles has a big heart.

She learned compassion from her mother, who instilled strong faith on her and served as an example by always working hard to make friends and family feel welcome and loved.

Ruiz’s compassion spills over into the tremendous effort she’s made as a health worker to improve the health of immigrant families.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science at Santa Clara University, Ruiz spent two years living in community and working with a community clinic as a referral coordinator, patient navigator and health educator.

Ruiz is interested in working more with Latinos who face chronic health conditions, especially those who struggle with healthcare access and preventive care.

To increase her training, she applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program, which recruits 25 master’s-level students and professionals for a five-day Summer Institute to promote doctoral degrees and careers studying Latino cancer. Éxito! is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez at UT Health San Antonio, with support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

“I feel grateful and inspired by my experiences at Éxito!,” Ruiz said. “Meeting a community of talented individuals with similar aspirations and drive has truly reinforced my interest in furthering my education.”

Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2016 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now.