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Home Logo PRE-HEALTH DREAMERS Promoting education and healthcare access for immigrant communities. Get Involved See our upcoming events Stay informed about our latest webinars, training sessions, and events designed to support educators and undocumented students pursuing healthcare careers! Learn More Paving the way for DACA recipients in health care What Higher Education Institutions Can Do to Remove Barriers for Undocumented Medical Students Check out our past 2024 Pre-Health Dreamers' Conference MADRINO & PADRINO SPONSORS Stats Pre-Health Dreamers conducted over 20 trainings for more than 500 community members in the last months. A word from our students... "PHDreamers connected me to other peers who helped me navigate the process of securing loans for higher education." -Jessica Astudillo Oleas, M.D. refs Join the mission. Become a member sign up CONNECT WITH US LINKEDIN FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER YOUTUBE connectwith us Service

Educators UndocuEDU Become one of our educational institutional members LaunchPad: Educator's Edition A 6-week boot camp that prepares educators to support undocumented students—even those without SSNs—in building healthcare careers through entrepreneurship. Request a presentation Do you want us to present a topic at your school?

Overview Program Details Checkout our 2023 PEEP Innovation Challenge Projects Over the last couple of months, our student's worked hard to tackle some of the most challenging issues within the immigrant and health care systems. View our three favorite winning projects from the top submissions. 1/7 Problem Pitching Jan - Feb During the dates of January 25th - February 15th, teams will meet at least once to discuss possible problems that they would want their group to tackle. Problems can stem from any three branches: 1) educational challenges for immigrant youth, 2) healthcare discrepancies for immigrant communities, 3) any other immigrant issues you faced as an undocumented student. Inspiration for problem can stem from personal experiences faced as an undocumented student. Brainstorming Feb - March Teams will enter the "Brainstorming" phase after a problem has been identified that has to be resolved. During this time, teams will gather to create and construct solutions. In order to create and construct solutions, may use pre-existing models presented by academic literature and provide their own twist. Poster Exhibition July 13th Los Angeles, California Teams will be presenting their projects via their posters at the annual conference for PhDreamers held this year in-person at Los Angeles, California. After the last team has pitched, judges will deliberate, and winners will be announced at the end of the event. Solution: Building your poster March - June After receiving and incorporating mentor comments, teams start composing a poster that summarizes their process for coming up with an inventive solution. On Scholar Teaching Day, poster templates will be made available at the commencement of the program. Posters will include an introduction, an issue explanation, and a solution. PROGRAM TIMELINE

Undocumented students may be discouraged from pursuing their educational and professional ambitions if they face obstacles when pursuing health-related degrees. These tools can help you research as you begin the admissions process and seek assistance at your campus and professional program. For more resources, join our community and become active participants. Learn more Resources. Resources Educational Aid For our students and educators Obstacles while pursuing health-related programs can deter undocumented students from pursuing their educational and professional goals. These resources will support your research as you start your admission process and seek support at your campus. Health Care Access For everyone Find health access resources and updates for the undocumented and immigrant community. Learn about Medi-Cal access and find free clinics around your area. Remind politicians that healthcare is a human right! Financial Aid For our students and educators Learn about the financial opportunities such as scholarships, grants, and other funding resources that can be given to undocu-students.

BIG THINGS HAVE DETERMINED BEGINNINGS... Informally co-founded in 2012 by three undocumented youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) flourished out of the need for comprehensive support to pursue higher education at the graduate and professional levels. Mission Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) promotes a culture of inclusion in higher education and healthcare by working with institutions to establish equitable holistic support and processes for undocumented communities. PHD empowers and equips students to skillfully use their voices to create a meaningful connection with higher education and professional programs. PHD has witnessed first-hand the lack of resources available for undocumented students pursuing health-related professional programs, like medicine, dentistry, nursing, research, and more. Even more, PHD participants show us that the barriers from ten years ago still exist today for traditionally underrepresented communities. We are empowered to support the community and strive to change the education and healthcare system for all immigrants. Vision PHD believes that immigration status should not exclude anyone from pursuing their dreams of higher education, careers, and contributing to their communities. PHD envisions a healthcare system that is accessible and welcoming to all regardless of their immigration status. PHD’s programs encourage equitable access, educational opportunities, and resources for traditionally underrepresented communities. We believe that by providing a continuity of support and training for undocumented pre-health students and health professionals, we will positively impact the health care services that undocumented communities receive. Our team provides: Student advising and advocacy support through our Peer Engagement and Enrichment Program (PEEP) National peer-support network and resources Institutional advocacy in higher education and health care through our National Community Coalition (NCC). Community training on health care access for the undocumented and immigrant community (NCC) A platform that elevates immigrant-friendly policy and legislation. Our interdepartmental collaborations address barriers and challenges from distinctive angles and at different levels. PHD adapts to the unique adversities that arise for individuals with complex immigration circumstances to best serve our diverse immigrant population.

Pre Health Dreamers Peep Engagement Enrichment (PEEP) Cohort 2022-2023 Peer Engagement Enrichment Program Application Deadline Location New Application Cycle starts this Fall! Virtual Year 2023-2024 Share PHD's Peer Engagement and Enrichment Program (PEEP) is a graduate pipeline program for undocumented students pursuing health professions. The program's design supports students with complex immigration statuses such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protective Status. Participants pursue health-related programs such as medical school, physical therapy, nursing, etc. Each profession has barriers: background checks, restrictive admission requirements, and inequitable support in schools. PEEP shapes and trains competitive applicants to break barriers that undocumented students face. Our program focuses on empowerment, self-advocacy, story sharing, and professional skills. P E E P Innovation Challenge 2024 “If you look at history, innovation does not come just from giving people incentives; it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect,” says Steven Johnson, a popular American science author. Traditionally, the responsibility of coming up with innovative products, services, and business models was assigned only to a handful of people within institutions. Pre-existing institutions have not provided a reliable concept for undocumented youth to pursue their education or choose eligible healthcare. Here at PhDreamers, we are trying to motivate students to tackle these issues first hand. We will strive to tackle issues they have faced by working in diverse teams and developing and building solutions. This year, PhDreamer's Peer Engagement and Enrichment Program will provide a research component to our students by using the program as a platform for students to build and develop a solution to an existing pressing issue amongst immigrant communities. We are currently working on our PEEP Cohort for this upcoming academic year. Coming Soon Student Apply today to be a part of the 2023 PEEP Scholar Program. Learn more Mentor Share your knowledge and experience with PEEP scholars as they break down problems and transform ideas into solutions. Learn more

Contact Us! The Team Click on the member you wish to email Join the Listserv Yadira Ortiz Executive Director Nursing , Dentistry Advocacy Support Licensure Ally Trainings Sponsorship Financial Assistance Background check for SSN Other health-related professional programs Join PHDreamers Maria Navarro Program Coordinator PEEP Program Student Network questions Social Media

Institutional Guidance: Post-Bacc 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. Pursuing Post-Bacc Programs DACA, TPS, non-SSN This post-baccalaureate (post-bac) program guide was produced by Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD) to assist you in determining if a post-bac is the right choice for you. Students who wish to improve their Grade Point Average (GPA), have made the decision to change fields, or require extra assistance to bolster their graduate or medical application may find that post-bac programs are beneficial. It is possible to enroll in post-bac programs. However, PHD is aware from personal experience that students without documentation face challenges when enrolling in post-bac programs. Pre-Health Dreamers is available to assist undocumented students at every stage of their journey. This paper will go over strategies for reducing and overcoming typical roadblocks that students have when finishing a post-baccalaureate degree. 2019 Breaking More Barriers Report DACA, TPS, non-SSN “Specifically, the survey elucidates the demographics of undocumented students pursuing health and health-science careers, describes the barriers they face within educational settings (e.g. access to pre-health advisors and career advising, financial aid challenges, and peer support networks), provides insights to their lived experiences (e.g. key challenges they have faced due to their immigration status), and describes their career aspirations (e.g. which degree programs they are pursuing and if they wish to practice in underserved areas). The survey was designed to build on previous initiatives and be a collaborative project with continued input and guidance from PHD staff.” 2022 Guidance for Postbaccalaureate Programs on Considering Applicants with Undocumented Status DACA, TPS, non-SSN This document guides postbaccalaureate programs on considering undocumented applicants with temporary benefits or protections while in the United States and applicants without a Social Security Number (SSN). These temporary protections include Temporary Protective Status (TPS) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We want to encourage programs to strengthen the holistic support provided to undocumented students pursuing postbaccalaureate programs at their institutions.

2023 PEEP Innovation Challenge See the winners for last years 2023 PEEP Innovation Challenge Read More Carolina Cortez Marure, Alexis Perez, Abdullah Bajwah Help seeking behaviors in the Latinx community for those suffering with mental illness The underrepresentation of cultural minorities in mental health careers, combined with the stigmatization surrounding mental health, deters members of the latinx community from pursuing vital mental health treatment. Read Tech Lead Ashley Jones This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button Office Manager Tess Brown This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button Product Manager Lisa Rose This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button HR Lead Kevin Nye This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button Customer Support Lead Alex Young This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button QA Specialist Andrew Cole This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button Content Strategist Debbie Green This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button Product Manager Alissa Rose This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person’s role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Button Apply Today This is a Paragraph. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start editing the content. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

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

PATHWAYS | Student Portal PATHWAYS is a four-month virtual program designed to help undergraduate undocumented students who are passionate about pursuing careers in healthcare. The program offers career exploration and focuses on various aspects such as professional development, academic enhancement, advocacy, establishing support networks, and introduction to entrepreneurship. Accepted participants will have the opportunity to engage in online events with their peers to share resources, exchange knowledge, and receive su PATHWAYS is a four-month virtual program designed to help undergraduate undocumented students who are passionate about pursuing careers in healthcare. The program offers career exploration and focuses on various aspects such as professional development, academic enhancement, advocacy, establishing support networks, and introduction to entrepreneurship. Accepted participants will have the opportunity to engage in online events with their peers to share resources, exchange knowledge, and receive support within a safe and inclusive environment. Moreover, the program aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to navigate the application process for their desired graduate or professional health programs in the future. Community building is core to the program, and participants are encouraged to participate in advocacy projects promoting access to healthcare and education for the undocumented community. Apply PATHWAYS Scholar Program Schedule for Students Full program schedule, highlighted with mandatory, optional and workshop events. Health Career PATHWAY Chart We recommend that you use this document as a starting point to begin your journey in researching professional programs.

Pre Health Dreamers Pathways: Unlocking health careers, breaking barriers Application Cycle Location Oct. 30, 2025 - Dec. 5, 2025 Virtual Year 2025-2026 Share PATHWAYS is a four-month virtual program designed to help undergraduate undocumented students who are passionate about pursuing careers in healthcare. The program offers career exploration and focuses on various aspects such as professional development, academic enhancement, advocacy, establishing support networks, and introduction to entrepreneurship. Accepted participants will have the opportunity to engage in online events with their peers to share resources, exchange knowledge, and receive support within a safe and inclusive environment. Apply Student Apply today to be a part of the PATHWAY Scholar Program. Learn more

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!

This bootcamp offered in the spring allows one to open their own business to work in the healthcare career of their choosing. Welcome to UndocuLaunch Pad: Empowering Health Professionals UndocuLaunch Pad is a virtual 6-week bootcamp designed to equip both students and educators with essential skills and knowledge for navigating the healthcare field as undocumented professionals. Through tailored sessions, participants gain valuable entrepreneurial skills, legal and business insights, and practical tools to overcome barriers unique to the undocumented community. For more information see below LaunchPad's Impact in 2024 Spring 2024 Cohort Report Fall 2024 Cohort Report Why is LaunchPad important? 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. "The overall knowledge that the resources had catered so well to the undocumented community. It was great to learn and get a lot of hope moving forward." - Fall Participant 2024 Students Learn More Educators Learn More 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.

Elevate future health professionals. Tax-deductible donations to Pre-Health Dreamers can be made through our fiscal sponsor, Community Initiatives, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Community Initiatives' Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 94-3255070. Donate