Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Alexandra Conde Toro
Santa Rosa Bay, Puerto Rico Alexandra Conde Toro has a heart for hearing and understanding people’s stories—characteristics she developed in her native Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a culture infused with the joy and encouragement of families, folk music, and stories. Conde Toro uses her passion for her community to address health problems they suffer. Conde Toto, who has a bachelor’s degree in human biology from The University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon Campus, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in research and evaluation of health systems at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus. She ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Angela Gutierrez
Baldwin Park, Calif. Angela Gutierrez learned from her father to turn every barrier into an opportunity, and to acquire knowledge to improve her native community in Baldwin Park, Calif. Inspired by his words—“If we do not have the knowledge, how can we change?”—Gutierrez earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and public health policy from the University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in public health from CSU Fullerton. She now is a research assistant for the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Center and teaches in the CSU Fullerton Department of Health Science. Gutierrez seeks to ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Hena Din
San Diego, Calif. Born to Pakistanian parents in San Diego, Hena Din cites her dual Muslim and American heritages as what drives her emotions, spirituality, and her passion for learning. Din has always enjoyed being in school and conducting research. This led to her earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis on health promotion and behavioral sciences from the University of California, San Diego. She is currently helping minority students discover health career paths. Driven by her ongoing passion to expand her knowledge through higher education, Din applied for ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Jose Arrezola
Fresno, Calif. When they moved from Mexico, to Fresno, Calif., in 1997, Jose Arrezola’s parents couldn’t read or write, but they strongly encouraged him to become educated. Arrazola joined a college assistant migrant program. There he worked with a mentor who provided additional support, encouragement, and opportunity, and eventually he became his family’s first-ever college grad, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health from California State University, Fresno. To seek new ways to expand his desire to prevent disease among Mexican Americans, Arrezola applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Benjamin Aceves
Bloomington, Calif. Growing up in the mainly low-income, Latino areas of Baja, Calif., and Coahuila Mexico, Benjamin Aceves developed a compassion for his community. He decided he wanted to help people get healthier. So, not only did Aceves become his family’s first-ever college graduate with a degree in political science and German, he also earned a master’s degree in health promotion and behavioral science and a master’s degree in Latino America Studies from San Diego State University. He now works across Southern California to increase awareness in nutrition and physical activity among Latino ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Brianda Alcazar
Bellflower, Calif. Brianda Alcazar, a California native who attended kindergarten in Sonora, Mexico, grew up with an immigrant-life experience of dual cultures, languages, and traditions. Alcazar is using this experience to identify with and help Latino immigrants. With a passion for social work that capitalizes on her strong motivation and empathy for other people, Alcazar earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from California State University, Long Beach. Her area of concentration is Latino youth and mental health. To find more ways to embody her favorite Gandhi quote (“You must be the ...
Editor's Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2014 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for the 2015 Èxito! program. Mitzy Gonzalez
Carraboro, N.C. Growing up partaking in conversations and gossip that brewed when her mom served up café con leche for guest in their home in Titusville, Fla., Mitzy Gonzalez learned how to truly appreciate people’s stories and communicate through love. Now she’s making a career of improving people’s lives. Encouraged by her parents’ love and dedication, at age 20 Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies at the University of South Florida, and at age 21 is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Gonzalez’ areas ...
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. Sandra Acevedo
Torrance, Calif. When Sandra Acevedo first came to the United States at age 10, she didn’t know anybody who spoke Spanish like she did. But with the support of her family and mentors, Acevedo not only learned English but has gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California Riverside and a master’s in public health degree (with a focus on nutrition) from Loma Linda University. Acevedo currently works for a diabetes prevention and management program that provides services in underserved areas of Los Angeles County. In search of information about applying ...
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. Lani Alcaraz
Houston, Texas Lani Alcaraz watched her father overcome many hardships and poverty in Mexico to become a doctor. Encouraged by his success, Alcaraz developed her own sense of perseverance and ambition and earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology (with a minor in chemistry) and her certificate in public health from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in January 2010. Alcaraz is currently pursuing her master’s in public health in epidemiology with a concentration in maternal and child health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Her research ...
