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  • 2023 PIC | Group 1 | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Abdullah Bajwah Pursuing M.D./PhD University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus (UM BC) Alexis Perez University Name Pursuing Medicine, Physician Assistance Carolina Cortez Marure University Name This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don’t forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle. Joan J. University Name This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don’t forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle. Education Our Background Personal Profile Every website has a story, and your visitors want to hear yours. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are and what your site has to offer. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know. If you’re a business, talk about how you started and share your professional journey. Explain your core values, your commitment to customers, and how you stand out from the crowd. Add a photo, gallery, or video for even more engagement. Download CV Get in Touch 123-456-7890 info@mysite.com

  • Resource: Nursing | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Institutional Guidance: Nursing Academic barriers, such as institutions refusing to admit students based on their immigration status, can present unnecessary stress and challenges to rising students. These guides provide information on how to apply for programs that consider undocumented applicants with temporary benefits, DACA, or other immigration statuses. 2025 Q&A: Undocumented Nursing Students in California DACA, TPS, or no SSN Undocumented students can pursue nursing regardless of their status. Even more, in California, legislation prevents higher education institutions, including nursing programs, from denying admission to students based solely on their immigration status. Although nursing programs cannot deny admission based on immigration status, undocumented students may face challenges in completing clinical requirements if they lack an SSN. This brief provides an overview of undocumented students' challenges when pursuing nursing programs and provides solutions that nursing programs and clinical sites can implement. This document focuses on California policies, Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) encourage individuals from other states to use it as a foundation for research and advocacy within their regions. Undocumented Students Pursuing Nursing: What is an ITIN? DACA, TPS, or no SSN Undocumented students often face significant barriers when applying to or completing nursing programs. Misconceptions about their ability to pass a background check, complete clinical experience, and obtain professional licensure, especially if they do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), can be particularly challenging. For many scenarios, an Individualized Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) serves as a key solution, helping to fulfill or complete some of the requirements that undocumented students may struggle with due to the lack of a Social Security Number (SSN). This document guides nursing programs in supporting undocumented students in obtaining and utilizing ITINs effectively to complete their nursing programs and receive their professional licensure. Support Letter to Directors of Clinical Programs DACA, TPS, or no SSN PHD wants to ensure that hospital and clinical site decision-makers understand the California laws and policies that have been put in place to aid undocumented students in pursuing health-related careers, specifically nursing. To support the PHD community, we ask all nursing programs and clinical sites in CA to create welcoming admission requirements and processes for undocumented students. Pursuing Nursing: Q&A for Undocumented Students in California DACA, TPS, or no SSN “PHD designed this document to answer general questions for students pursuing nursing degrees in California who are undocumented (without SSN) or under DACA or TPS immigration status. The text provides information regarding California legislation that supports the advancement of undocumented individuals into medical programs, such as nursing. The Q&A also includes general information about background checks without a social security number, obtaining clinical experience without a social security number, and obtaining professional licenses as an undocumented individual with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).” Letter to Directors of Nursing Programs in Support of Undocumented Students DACA, TPS, or no SSN We address the mounting concerns towards institutional leaders in support of the PHD community and educators throughout the state. We cordially welcome all California nursing programs to join us in our efforts to establish friendly admission standards and areas for undocumented students enrolled in nursing programs on their campus. Health Career Pathway Chart for Pre-Health Students in California DACA, TPS, or no SSN “The information below is based on the most updated research done by Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD). Please note that this information is subject to change. We recommend that you use this document as a starting point to begin your journey in researching professional programs. This document was created to help support individuals who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protective Status (TPS), or who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN).”

  • Outward Events | PEEP | Pre-Health Dreamers

    PEEP Outward Events Check out the workshops that will make up this year's 2023 PEEP Cohort. In order to attend one of these events, please RSVP in advance. Limited seating capacity and acceptance will be met on a rolling basis. Learn More RSVP January 2023 Health Careers 101 Jan 31st 2023 | 8:00 PM EST RSVP February 2023 Advocacy Training Feb 8th 2023 | 8:00 PM EST January 25th, 2023 | 7:00 PM EST RSVP March 2023 Competitive Applications : CV Builder Workshop Feb 8th 2023 | 8:00 PM EST RSVP Heading 3 May 2023 Financial Aid May 18th 2023 | 8:00 PM EST RSVP June 2023 Community Self Advocacy June 5 2023 | 8:00 PM EST RSVP

  • LaunchPad | Student | Pre-Health Dreamers

    This bootcamp offered in the spring allows one to open their own business to work in the healthcare career of their choosing. Undocu LaunchPad Application Deadline Location Applications open again Spring 2025 Virtual Year 2025 Share Launching a business may be challenging, thrilling, and fulfilling., especially for a student or individual who plans to be a health professional. You know you want to get that degree and that career in health care, but the process may become overwhelming if you don't have a clear idea of where it can go, how to construct it, and how to keep it going. But we are here to help you brainstorm! Returning Student Login IMAGINE Start brainstorming what services your business will offer in the health industry. IDENTIFY Learn what paperwork you need to establish your business. STRATEGIZE Discover how to engage clients and partners with customized marketing. LAUNCH Launch your company and start creating partnerships and providing services. How can you advance your dream into reality? Knowledge and skills you will gain from UndocuLaunch Pad. Transferable Skills What abilities, expertise, or other assets can you offer? You may have picked up a skill while doing odd jobs without realizing it. Discover skillsets that are valuable for your own healthcare-related business. Federal & State Laws Some laws protect the rights of undocumented entrepreneurs across several states of the United States. Plan a Budget Consider integrating both your personal and corporate goals when creating a budget. Will you lease an office space? Will you be working from home? Marketing & Promotions Create your first business flyer and logo. Learn how to promote your services for a specific client or community. Vision and Mission What is your vision for your company? How do you plan to serve your community? Answering these questions will assist you in developing your company's vision and goal. Permits & Insurance Understand the regulations and licenses needed to legitimize your business.

  • Resource: Pharmacy | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Institutional Guidance: Pharmacy Academic barriers, such as institutions refusing to admit students based on their immigration status, can present unnecessary stress and challenges to rising students. These guides provide information on how to apply for programs that consider undocumented applicants with temporary benefits, DACA, or other immigration statuses. 2021 Guidance for Pharmacy Programs on Considering Applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA “This guide encourages admissions committees and institutional leaders involved in selection processes to consider applicants with DACA for seats in their Pharmacy program as they would consider any other applicant. Upon review of applications, you are sure to find that these students have a breadth of life experiences, cultural agility, linguistic expertise, and unique perspectives.”

  • Outreach Report | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Changing the Game Pre-Health Dreamers is the first undocumented student-born organization to push for changes in admission policies at health-related professional programs denying students due to their status. 01 National Community Coalition (NCC) Pre-Health Dreamers’ National Community Coalition (NCC) seeks to address barriers and empower institutions that seek to better assist and work with the undocumented community. Through a year-long training, support, and collaboration with the members that serve in these institutions, we will enrich the spaces they provide for the most historically excluded communities. We are excited to have signed on our first member schools: SUNY Upstate Medical University and California University of Science and Medicine. 02 Advancing Public Health Through Law and Policy PHD changed admission policies at nursing programs and other health-related programs denying students due to their status. 03 PEEP: Peer Engagement and Enrichment Program PEEP fosters opportunities for undocumented individuals to become leaders in their professional programs, healthcare, and research through workshops, training, guest speakers, and peer mentorship. After completing PEEP, alums will continue to be offered leadership opportunities to train undocumented individuals to advocate for equitable higher education and professional program access. 04 Changes in admission policies for health professional programs PHD works to inform educators and program decision-makers about California laws and policies that advance undocumented students in pursuing health-related programs and careers. We invite you to join our efforts to create welcoming admission requirements and spaces for undocumented students pursuing health-related professional programs at your campus.

  • Educational | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Institutional Guidance Academic barriers, such as institutions refusing to admit students based on their immigration status, can present unnecessary stress and challenges to rising students. These guides provide information on how to apply for programs that consider undocumented applicants with temporary benefits, DACA, or other immigration statuses. Medicine Pharmacy Undergraduate Students Licensure Dentistry Nursing Post-Bac

  • Statistics | Pre-Health Dreamers

    In 2025, PHD's Pathway Program served over 600 students , through individualized support, cohort style programming and trainings. Overview of our Pre-Health Dreamers student participants, Approximately 90% of participants are First-Generation: 16 % 5 % Over 60% identify as Latino Over 16% identify as Asian Over 75% identify as Female Over 5% identify as Black In 2024-2025, PHD: PHD is a national program. However, 50% of participants reside in California, including: Los Angeles San Bernardino Bay Area Central California Join and supported 4 CA and Nationwide Taskforces that elevate access and equity for undocumented individuals in health-related professional programs and careers. Reached 600 students and 1000 educators its programming. Met with 200 students through 1-on-1 advising; Undocu Launch Pad PHD piloted UndocuLaunch Pad in 2024. Entrepreneurship can be an option for scholars and professionals in the health workforce, as their immigration status will prevent them from applying for traditional employment. Dentists, nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, and other health professionals can serve their communities and enjoy financial independence with their own businesses or contracts. Learn More A low number (5-10%) of undocumented students matriculating into professional programs Inequitable educational and health access of specialized support for this population PHDreamers 2 0 2 5 Annual Report Newsletter

  • Our Team | Pre-Health Dreamers

    The Team Who We Are Yadira Ortiz Executive Director Flavia Negrete Project Coordinator Rocio Muñante Navarro Program Coordinator Maria Navarro PEEP Project Coordinator Yadi Ortiz Yadira Ortiz Executive Director For over a decade, Yadira has collaborated with students, families, staff and faculty in the educational system to advocate for procedural and institutional change. She has continuously been an advocate for students and works to ensure that students are empowered, engaged and encouraged. Yadira has also mentored students, student organizations and their allies in becoming agents of change for themselves and others. Witnessing the lack of assistance for undocumented students in higher education has pushed Yadira to research, create and establish resources, programming, emergency grants and trainings in the CSU and other educational systems. She has created workshops and presentations regarding the following topics: higher education, the needs of undocumented students, ally trainings, how to establish resource centers, the importance of networking and more. Yadira was fundamental in founding the Dream Success Center at California State University, San Bernardino and was recently the Assistant Director for Long Beach State’s Dream Success Center. Yadira has years of experience in community outreach, advising, and presenting at local and national conferences. She has also been a vocal representative during round table conversations with local consulates, immigration lawyers and counselors to discuss the needs of the community. Maria Navarro PEEP Project Manager Maria Navarro Nuñez holds a Bachelor of Science in Global Disease Biology and Public Health from the University of California, Davis. Maria grew up in California's San Joaquin Central Valley and is passionate about promoting equity and inclusion in healthcare and education, particularly for immigrant communities. Her professional experience includes work in both academic and clinical areas. She began her career as a Marketing and Outreach Specialist at San Joaquin Delta College, where she established programs to support undocumented students and played a key role in establishing the Dreamers Success Center. Maria later shifted her focus to clinical research and worked on several clinical studies funded by federal organizations such as the NIH and various academic grants. Additionally, she served as a clinical research coordinator at UCSF Mission Bay's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where she worked with the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE). Before joining PRHE, she also worked in Maternal-Fetal clinical research at Stanford University. Maria aspires to pursue a doctorate in public health with a focus on epidemiology and health policy, where she aims to raise awareness of the lived experiences of immigrant communities and promote equity in healthcare and education. She is enthusiastic about continuing her work towards improving population health in immigrant communities, focusing on advancing maternal and reproductive health and health policy. Rocio Muñante Navarro Program Coordinator Rocio Muñante Navarro recently joined Pre-Health Dreamers to pursue her passion for immigration justice and advocating for access to medical services to historically underserved communities. She has worked with various organizations centered around equity and diversity-focused in bringing resources to low-income, POC, and underserved communities. She immigrated from Perú at the age of four and was raised in the South Bay of Southern California. She began her undergraduate education at El Camino Community College and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of California, Riverside. She has researched COVID-19’s impact on migrant farming communities, which has been utilized to advise municipalities on public health education and decreasing vaccine hesitancy within Latinx communities. During the height of the pandemic, she contributed to bringing several testing sites, vaccination clinics, free clinics, and food distributions to some of the most vulnerable communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Her passion for pursuing medicine comes from the inequalities she faced growing up undocumented and uninsured. She aspires to become a Physician to provide culturally competent healthcare and advocate for equitable access to healthcare. She hopes to use her background and lived experiences as an undocumented individual to be a mentor for the next generations of undocumented aspiring healthcare professionals. Flavia Negrete, MS PEEP Coordinator Flavia Negrete just finished her graduate program and received her Master's of Science in Bioinformatics from the University of Maryland. Previously she graduated with a double B.S. degree in (1) Biochemistry and (2) Cell Physiology & Neurobiology. Throughout her work at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Flavia focused on engineering the first multi-faceted comparative genomic tool for high sequencing analysis for Cronbacter spp, a gram-negative bacteria affiliated with meningitis cases in neonates and the elderly. Flavia is very passionate about medical research and hopes that her background can help develop and propel projects where students from all immigration backgrounds can share their research. As Flavia continues to progress in her educational journey, she will be using her background in community outreach to lead the PEEP Cohort for this upcoming year. She plans to use various platforms to strengthen the PHD community through connection and fruitful networking. Email prehealthdreamers@gmail.com Follow

  • Media | Pre-Health Dreamers

    In the Media PHDreamers' Director, Yadira Ortiz gets interviewed during Gente Unidas's Podcast "Magnificent Mujer" August 31, 2020 Pre-Health Dreamers Response to Supreme Court DACA Decision June 18, 2020 Co-founder Denisse Rojas' interview with Senator Chuck Schumer May 4, 2020 Striking down DACA would eliminate thousands of health care workers, thwarting America's pandemic response May 1, 2020 DACA health workers risk their lives to fight COVID-19 while they await SCOTUS ruling April 30, 2020 WE ARE MEDICAL WORKERS AND DACA RECIPIENTS. IT IS OUR DUTY TO PROTECT AMERICA FROM COVID-19 April 23, 2020 Thousands of DACA health care workers fight coronavirus - and worry about their fate March 30, 2020 DACA workers on the health care front lines March 28, 2020

  • Mentor Portal | PEEP | Pre-Health Dreamers

    PEEP | Mentor Portal The introduction of lengthy and ongoing professional education programs has brought attention to the need for stronger institutional and municipal policy. This is the program to brainstorm and build innovative solutions with students from like minded environments. As a mentor of the PEEP Cohort you will be an essential guide for our students by providing feedback. Mentors are only required to contribute feedback to student during the "Mentor Check-In" session which tend to happen during the second half of the month. See PEEP Program Schedule for more information. Coming soon PEEP Scholar Program Schedule for Mentor Full program schedule, highlighted with mandatory, optional and workshop events. Mentor Resources Mentors will have access to specific resources provided by PhDreamers in order to help guide students through the project.

  • Share your Story! | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Share your story We want to hear from you and your experience. Pre-Health Dreamers provides services to students and institutions of higher education nationwide. We are interested in hearing your stories. Have you utilized Pre-Health Dreamers' resources? Have you received advice, advocacy support, guidance, or training from the PHD team? We want to hear about your experience. How were we able to support you? How can we do better? Your story could end up on our website, in newsletters, in one of our digital publications, or social media, but we will contact you first. What's Your Story? First Name Last Name Email Submit you story Submit Thanks for submitting!

  • Get Involved | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Become a member of our community Comprehensive Guidance For Educators For Students

  • Pre-Health Dreamers' Response to Supreme | Pre-Health Dreamers

    Pre-Health Dreamers' Response to Supreme Court DACA Decision Dear PHD family, We did it!! We had a huge win this morning when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the DACA program. We are elated that many members from the PHDreamers’ community and beyond, were able to take a sigh of relief and celebrate this moment. The DACA program supports nearly 700,000 individuals nationally and impacts even more families and communities across the country. This moment can bring mixed emotions. Many members in the PHD community are not eligible for DACA or have family members and loved ones who were left behind by this immigration policy. We also acknowledge that DACA was never a permanent solution and it does not provide a pathway to citizenship. We firmly believe in the need for a comprehensive immigration reform that benefits all undocumented immigrants in this country. Today’s victory is a battle won from a much larger war that still needs to be fought. We hope to help answer some questions on what today’s decision means. According to the Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) , today’s decision means that the court sided with DACA recipients in acknowledging that the way the program was rescinded was unlawful. Even though the program has been reinstated, it is important to note that the administration can still try to end the program. What the decision means for the time being is that the program will continue with the following benefits: Current DACA recipients can continue to submit renewal applications. Individuals who meet eligibility for DACA will be able to submit new applications. All eligible individuals should consult with a legal representative prior to submitting a DACA application for the first time. Advanced Parole may open in the future, but it is unclear what this will look like given the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. For those seeking financial assistance for DACA, please visit this website by RAICES! It is important that everyone in the community take the time to process their emotions regardless of what they may be. However, PHD recognizes that we must continue to advocate for more progressive institutional policies for the undocumented community. We strongly believe that no piece of paper or status defines who you are. We will continue to shape our own futures regardless of what may come and not let restrictive and discriminatory policies hold us down. PHD wants to thank all the undocumented individuals that advocated for DACA to stay and consistently consistently advocates for the rights of all immigrants. For years, many individuals have tirelessly shared their stories to politicians and to the media including hundreds of individuals in the PHD community. Every single individual who was also so brave to share their story to their peers, teachers, counselors, admission officers and others, we thank you as well. Thank you to all who marched and protested in support of all undocumented immigrants. Your courageous work as undocumented young people and adults has been a powerful one and never forget that this victory came with your work. WE earned it. We would also like to thank the organizations and institutions that filed against the administration when DACA was rescinded in 2017. Pre-Health Dreamers joined the Association of American Medical Colleges and 31 other organizations in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court filed in September 2019 where we detailed why the DACA program was vital to health care professionals. We included results from our 2019 Breaking More Barriers report (shout out to all who completed the survey!). Our very own co-founder New Latthivongskorn was a plaintiff in the first lawsuit filed against the Trump Administration for rescinding DACA. And Denisse Rojas, also co-founder of PHD, was the sole witness to the DACA program in the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing a month after the program was rescinded. Our PHD community was instrumental in this fight. We’d like to share other recent media featuring our PHD community! Including Dr. Veronica Velasquez (Doctor of Physical Therapy), Dr. Dalia Larios, MD , Dr. Cesar Andrade, Drs Andino and Barnal , and Krissia Rivera (medical student at Brown). Today’s news will continue to benefit an estimated 699,350 active DACA recipients residing in the United States. However, advocacy must continue for all undocumented and TPS individuals. Families deserve to stay together. In this fight with you - today and always. Yours truly, Yadira Ortiz, Executive Director Pre-Health Dreamers || Denisse Rojas Marquez, Co-founder, Pre-Health Dreamers || Dr. New Latthivongskorn, Co-founder, Pre-Health Dreamers ||

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