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Meet our Students! We are excited to highlight the stories of some of our PEEP participants across the nation who are striving to attend graduate and health professional programs. This 2020-2021 Cohort consisted of 60 participants; half were from California and the rest from across the United States! Please get to know our future scientists, educators, and health providers by hearing their stories and learning from their advice below Alexis Career: Medicine Alexis is a college access professional in the Central Valley. Born in México, he migrated with his family to the U.S. at a young age. After seeing his single mother work in the Central Valley's back-breaking agricultural fields, he was motivated to pursue higher education. He went off to UCLA and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a double minor in Chicana/o Studies and Labor & Workplace Studies. He then returned to the Central Valley and dedicated his professional career to educational outreach programs that service Fresno county. After countless years of encouraging his student to pursue their dreams, he is now committed to pursuing his own. Alexis is seeking a change in his career and hopes to become a healthcare professional that continues to be an agent of change in his community. Fueled by his passion for his family and community, his ultimate goal is to become a community physician in California's Central Valley. Adriana Career: Medicine Hello, my name is Adriana. I was born in Salina Cruz Oaxaca, Mexico. I was brought here to the United States at the age of 3 and have lived in California ever since. After high school, I decided to go to community college to decide what career I wanted to pursue. Going to Santa Monica College gave me time and the liberty to think and determine my choices clearer and my path rate. I recently transferred to California State University Northridge, pursuing a B.A in psychology and also pre-med, I hope to see myself in the near future applying to medical school to help others to pursue their goals too and support low-income, unrepresented and immigrant communities. Adyzabeth Career: Physician Assistant I was born in Mexico, but North Carolina has been home for the past sixteen years. I have been fortunate to be a DACA recipient for about eight years now. But despite this opportunity, many of us have experienced limitations and barriers when pursuing higher studies. I am proud to say I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Health Science at Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina, this past May. As an aspiring physician assistant, I am currently working as a nurse assistant to acquire healthcare experience. I plan on applying to the physician assistant program of the following schools: Wingate University, High Point University, and Elon University. My future goal is to help DACA students through this same journey of obtaining a higher education and providing them with the same support and guidance I have received from friends and family. Alma Career: Medicine I am a first-generation college student from Santa Ana, CA, who is pursuing a challenging career in medicine/public health. I am the oldest of five and the first one in my family to go into higher education and be a DACA student who has had a hard time applying to many opportunities. Moving to a new Country at five years old was difficult because of the language and new culture. Despite this, I recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in Integrative Biology and a minor in Global Poverty and Practice. I hope to give back to my community in the future Andrea Career: Dentistry I am a second-year undocumented pre-dental student at Trinity Washington University. My passion for medicine was instilled by my mother, who was an Anesthesiologist in El Salvador for nearly seven years until I was born. Being undocumented for me has been overcoming barriers to get into undergrad and paying for college. Therefore I am grateful to be a recipient of the Dream.US scholarship for paying for undergrad. During my first year of college, I saw a nudge to go into Dentistry when my wisdom tooth became infected. Half my face was inflamed, and I was rushed to the dentist by my mother. It turned out that my wisdom teeth were pushing my teeth together because they were coming in horizontally. Within the next month, I was getting all four wisdom teeth removed. Now I am pursuing a Bachelors of Science majoring in Chemistry and an aspiring Dentist. Angelika Career: Medicine My name is Angelika. I was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States when I was nine years old. Growing up, I was always taught that hard work makes your dream come true. Not until recently that I realized that's not entirely true. Arriving in the United States, unaware of my status, allowed me to see life through a different lens. My parents did not let me feel inadequate. I went to modeling school, did few fashion gigs, joined a dance crew in college, and did few dance competitions and shows afterward. I like reading self-help books relating to mental health. I like interior designing and building furniture. I love listening to poetry slams and writing with my oblique, dip pen in calligraphy. I love traveling and learning about different cultures as I go. I love hiking and discovering my limits. I love the ocean and realizing that life is, in some sense, limitless. However, underneath all of this, my passion lies in helping people. Seeing patients from my work go through heartbreaks to breakthroughs and breakthroughs followed by heartbreaks gives me the drive to move forward with science. Also, I want to make my parents proud, and my brothers are inspired to allow themselves to be whoever they want to be and live a life they are proud of. Azucena Career: Medicine Azucena is a Mexican immigrant who was raised in East Point and Fayetteville, Georgia. She is currently in the second year of her undergraduate studies at Trinity Washington University, where she studies Biochemistry. In addition, Azucena is an Eligibility Specialist at a non-profit medical clinic in Washington, DC. She breaks down those barriers for underserved DC residents by connecting them with medical services, food pantries, immigration lawyers, etc. Her goal is to become a physician and to bridge the gap of health disparities in marginalized communities. Catherine Career: Medical Scientist (MD/PHD) Catherine was born in Hong Kong on November 19, 1997. She emigrated from Hong Kong to the United States at three years old with her two brothers under her parents' authority. Since then, she and her family members have stayed in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. Catherine is currently studying Linguistics at the University of Maryland and is seeking this degree to help with her future Medical career and study language. She desires to be a Medical Doctor and a Physician-Scientist (MD-PhD). Being an African undocumented immigrant, she has faced many barriers that have affected her personal life, mental health, and academic life. And though those challenges approached her, she still presses on and continues to trust in God that she will complete her degree and successfully become the Medical doctor she desires. Dafne Career: Medicine Hello, my name is Dafne, and I enjoy dancing the night away to some amazing Bachata, Salsa, or Cha Cha, you name it. I am active in my community by mentoring 6-12 graders wanting to pursue a STEM profession. I am a product of immigrants; born in Mexico and came to the states when I was two years old. Being a first-generation college student, it took me quite a while to navigate the environment, and I’m still figuring my way through the premedical path. I am an aspiring surgeon specializing in Neurology or Cardiology to serve underserved communities better. I hope to play a role in combating the health inequities that predominantly affect communities of color. Denisse Career: Medicine Hello, I am Denisse. I was raised in the Inland Empire, and I am currently a second-year student at the University of California, Riverside. I am pursuing a degree in biochemistry and ethnic studies. My goal is to become a physician and work for the underserved communities that are often forgotten. I am also passionate about fighting for the rights of women and immigrants. I am currently a volunteer for the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Coalition, an organization where I have met beautiful people from many different backgrounds. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and being outdoors! Diana Career: Physician Assistant Dania is an immigrant from Baja California, Mexico, who grew up in Southern California. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Merced, where she studied Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Developmental Biology. She is currently in her gap years completing the rest of the prerequisites and patient care hours for a Physician Assistant Program. Dania is presently working as a physical therapy aide in a local private practice serving a diverse community in Oxnard, CA. Her role as an aide gives her the responsibility to care for Spanish-speaking patients. She serves as a liaison between the doctor and patient to ensure the best quality of care to the community's underserved patients. She is very passionate about advocating for Spanish-speaking individuals by understanding their care at the practice. She believes in health as a human right and is motivated to utilize her skills in a place where she is most needed. Her professional goal is to become a Physician Assistant with a specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dulce Career: Medicine Hola! My name is Dulce, and I am a fourth-year student at UC Riverside. I was born in Mexico City and brought to the states when I was 2-years old. Due to my immigration status, I had to deny every university that accepted me out of high school and decided to attend Pasadena City College. At my community college, I discovered how to merge my interests in psychology and chemistry, which led me to pursue my B.S degree in neuroscience. Due to the lack of mentorship I had in high school into higher education, I now serve as a student mentor to students like myself. I also advocate for higher education to high school students in underprivileged communities and community college folks. My urology and rheumatology medical clinic work has also shown me the much work needed to do to build better communication and education between physicians and patients. Juntos Podemos! Eva Career: Physician Assistant Hello! My name is Eva, and I am currently a junior at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA. I’m a firm believer in being extraordinary and letting the best part of me shine. I’m currently learning Korean and dabble in some drawing and photography. I also love dogs and have four at home. Eva G. Career: Medicine Eva is from Toluca, Mexico, and grew up in Orange County after moving to California at three. She completed high school at Western High School in Anaheim, CA, and is currently working on her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology while also completing pre-med prerequisites at California State University, Fullerton. She is currently working as a tutor and pre-college advisor with Upward Bound and her old high school. Recently she has had the great opportunity to become a social media ambassador to Virtue Mental, a non-profit organization that seeks to provide free mental health resources to underprivileged communities. Her ultimate career goal is to become an emergency physician and practice medicine in California. Jackeline Career: Nursing My name is Jackeline, and I was born in the city of Guatemala, Central America. I migrated to the United States when I was nine years old, along with my sister. Moving to the US opened many doors and expanded opportunities for my sister and me to further our education. I received my high school diploma, was awarded scholarships, and received my Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education from San Francisco State University. I currently work as a Community Health Outreach Worker with youth. I am now looking forward to furthering my education and obtaining a career in the medical field as a Nurse. Jefferson Career: Medicine Name: Jefersson; Hometown: East Los Angeles; Born in: Guatemala City, Guatemala; Degree: Bachelor's in Science; Career interested in: Medicine/ Nursing; Favorite hobbies: Watching soccer/basketball games with my brother and going bike riding Jhon Career: Medicine Greeting fellow peers, my name is Jhon, and I am a student from the University of California, Irvine, pursuing the medical field to become a doctor. I come from Peru, and one of my hobbies surrounds listening and making music. I am passionate about creating a healthcare equity environment within our undocumented community and advocating for health's basic human rights. Johan Career: Medicine I was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the US when I was very young. I grew up in Virginia, where I attended the Governor's Health Science Academy at Cosby High School. Where I learned about healthcare careers and where my passion for the health sciences flourished. I'm currently completing a bachelor of science in Clinical Neuroscience at Virginia Tech. I'm very fortunate and ecstatic to be part of this year's PEEP Cohort! I enjoy giving back to the community through volunteering and helping those that need our help. I'm also very passionate about advocating for social change and representing those that are underrepresented. I aspire to become a doctor in the future, not only to help others but also to promote equity and change the world! I believe that it's imperative to keep dreaming, tackle obstacles with a smile, and encourage others to keep fighting for their rights. To not let the struggles define us, but to empower and make us grow. “ Be optimistic, don’t get lost in the sea of despair, but be bold, be courageous and all will work out” - John Lewis Joseph Career: Public Health Joseph is a Junior pursuing Health Science at Rutgers University-Camden transferring from Camden County Community College. Joseph immigrated to the United States from Honduras at the age of 6 and desires to become a public health practitioner focusing on health equity, health policy, and health promotion for underserved communities. Mariel Career: Physician Assistant Mariel is a Mexican immigrant and a first-generation college student. She grew up in Colorado and moved to Riverside, California, in 2013. She is currently in her last year of undergrad and will be graduating in the spring of 2021 with a B.A. in Public Health Policy. She hopes to gain medical experience during her gap year(s) to apply to a Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. When she becomes a PA-C, she hopes to serve uninsured Latino communities to address health disparities. In the future, she hopes to share her experience and pre-PA students. Martha Career: Medicine My name is Martha. I am a third-year undergraduate student at the University of California Merced, majoring in Biology with an emphasis in Human Biology. I was born in Michoacán, Mexico, and currently reside in Los Angeles, California. Upon graduating, I plan to attend Medical School. My goal is to become a pediatrician to give back to my community. There are not enough bilingual or minority doctors servicing low-income communities, making doctor-patient communication difficult. As a minority myself, my goal is to help bridge the communication gap by going back and servicing the community where I grew up. I want to alleviate the stress parents undergo when having to discuss their children’s medical concerns, stress brought on because of language and cultural barriers. Monserath Career: Medicine Monserrath is an immigrant from Morelos, Mexico. She grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and has a Bachelor of Science in biology and Master of Science in biochemistry from the University of Scranton. She is the first in her family to graduate high school and college with the help of her supportive parents and family. Monserrath wishes to attend medical school to help her community gain better access to healthcare. She also enjoys tutoring and mentoring other students of the same background to make education more accessible for all. Paola Career: Medicine I was born in Minas Gerais, Brasil. At the age of four, I immigrated to the United States with my family and grew up in Yonkers, NY. I am currently obtaining my Bachelor of Science from the University of Rochester in Microbiology with a minor in epidemiology. I hope to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. As a physician in the US, I hope to go back to the diverse community I grew up in and help eradicate the health disparities that are so prevalent. If given the opportunity, I would love to use my public health/epidemiology background and work abroad. It’s my dream to one day be able to travel back to Brazil, over 17 years later, with the ability to implement positive change. Valentina Career: Nursing My name is Valentina, and I am originally from Colombia. I am currently studying at a community college to get all my pre-requisites done to transfer to a nursing program. I would love to become a BSN and specialize in pediatrics. I have always loved to help people who need an extra hand. Victoria Career: Research (PHD) Victoria was born in Guerrero, Mexico, and was raised in a small rural community of the Central Valley called Porterville. She is a third-year undergraduate student at UC Merced. Victoria is pursuing a double major in Public Health and Spanish. Potentially in the future, she aspires to help underrepresented communities that lack healthcare resources and health benefits. She hopes that her success story becomes a role model for other undocumented first-generation Latinas who want to pursue higher education. Yemile Career: Medicine Yemile is a senior at Harvard College studying Human Evolutionary Biology. While Yemile is originally from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, she has lived in Houston, Texas, for most of her life. As a first-generation college student, she is active in advising other under-resourced students to encourage them to pursue higher education. Her goal is to become a pediatrician to provide better healthcare to children from low-income and immigrant communities. She also hopes to work towards fighting against healthcare disparities related to socioeconomic and immigration status.

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

Media Please learn about PHD's efforts and join our cause Program Updates April 2025 Read Now! Paving the way for DACA recipients in health care No longer afraid: an undocumented immigrant's experience in American health care Denisse Rojas Marquez's Testimony to Senate Judiciary Hearing See our Founder's New Latthivongskorn TED Talk Medical School 'Dreamers' Face Uncertainty With Trump Check our conversation with Juarez Consulting regarding career directions in immigrant populations May 2023 Newletter Yadira Ortiz, PHDreamer's Director interview with Gente Unidas's podcast "Magnificent Mujer" Pre-Health Dreamers' Response to Supreme Court DACA Decision Striking down DACA would eliminate thousands of health care workers, thwarting America’s pandemic response DACA health workers risk their lives to fight COVID-19 while they await SCOTUS ruling "We are medical workers. It is our duty to protect America from COVID-19" | Opinion Piece Thousands of DACA health care workers fight coronavirus — and worry about their fate

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

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?

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.

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

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.

PEEP Mentor Schedule Check out the events that will make up this year's 2023 PEEP Cohort. Start Now Schedule P PEEP Workshops Optional for Mentors M Mentor Check-Ins O Outward Workshops Mandatory Optional Self-Assigned * Suggested Timeline January 2023 PEEP Intro | Overview Jan 31st 2023 | 7:00 PM EST January 25th, 2023 | 7:00 PM EST March 2023 Mentor Check-In #2 March 15th 2023 - March 29th 2023 Story Sharing: Building your Narrative March 29th 3023 | 7:00 PM EST February 2023 Mentor Check-In #1 Feb 15th 2023 -Feb 22nd 2023 The Big 5: What do you need to get into your school of choice? February 23rd, 2023 | 7:000 PM EST April 2023 Mentor Check-In #3 April 15th 2023 - April 26th 2023 Advocacy Training April 26th 2023 | 7:00 PM EST Heading 3 May 2023 Financial Aid May 18th 2023 | 8:00 PM EST Mentor Check-In #4 May 15th 2023 - May 24th 2023 June 2023 Mentor Check-In #5 April 15th 2023 - April 26th 2023 Training: MOCK Interview June 21st 2023 | 7:00 PM EST Budget & Finances May 24th 2023 | 7:00 PM EST July 2023 3-minute Presentation & Poster Exhibition Heading 3 July 13th 2023 | Los Angeles, California Mentor Calendar

This bootcamp offered in the spring allows one to open their own business to work in the healthcare career of their choosing. LaunchPad: Educator's Edition (EDULaunchPad) Application Deadline Feb 5th, 2025 Dates Location Virtual Price Feb 11- March 18 2025 $750 LaunchPad: Educators Edition is a 6-week boot camp that provides professional development by guiding educators, career counselors, pre-health advisors, dream center coordinators, and others in supporting their students through their journey as entrepreneurs in health professions. This boot camp will enhance advisors' knowledge as they serve students pursuing health careers regardless of their students' immigration status, especially if the student does not have employment authorization. This boot camp will elevate educators' knowledge when serving undocumented students who may not know how to use their professional health-related degree and license, especially if they do not have employment authorization or a social security number. Returning Educator Login What is LaunchPad for educators? EDULaunchPad provides educators with information, guidance resources, and skillsets that can develop or strengthen their advising skills when working with undocumented students. This boot camp will be even more supportive if you are an advisor to an undocumented student seeking a health-related professional program, such as nursing, medicine, dentistry, research, and more. This boot camp will elevate educators' knowledge when serving undocumented students who do not know how to use their professional health-related degree and license, especially if they do not have employment authorization or a social security number. Do I need to have any prior experience? The EDULaunch Pad bootcamp is designed for educators at all levels, including those new to advising undocumented students. The program provides foundational knowledge and resources to help you effectively support students in navigating entrepreneurship and building their own businesses, even as they work toward their degrees. How is this course offered? The EDULaunch Pad bootcamp is an online 6-week bootcamp that is hosted by our Pre-Health Dreamers team. If you would like to sign up, please follow the link above for more information as to how to register. For any questions, please contact flavia@phdreamers.org . When are the classes offered? See our schedule below for the upcoming Spring Term. Feb 11: Live Q&A Panel Feb 18: Transferable Skills & First Steps to Business Feb 25: Building Your Student's Roadmap To Success Mar 4: The LLC Paper Mill Mar 11: Financial Responsibilities: Taxes and Invoice Contracts Mar 18: Insurance, SEED Grants & Closing Ceremony IMAGINE Brainstorm with students creative ways to launch their health centered business LEAD Lead your students on the steps they will need to start their business in healthcare STRATEGIZE Guide your students on how to market their business and find clients LAUNCH Launch your students into a successful start in healthcare.

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

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

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

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.

Institutional Guidance: Medicine 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. Student Populations We Serve: Beyond DACA DACA and non-SSN For over a decade, Pre-Health Dreamers has worked with DACA recipients pursuing medical programs and has supported research, advocacy, and training to advance this population. In recent years, the population Pre-Health Dreamers serves has shifted, and the majority of our participants no longer fall under DACA but other protective statuses, immigration processes, or may not have a status at all. This document provides information regarding individuals seeking medical programs regardless of their immigration status. California Risks Losing an Entire Generation of Physicians: What Higher Education Institutions Can Do to Remove Barriers for Undocumented Medical Students DACA and non-SSN This briefing document describes the opportunities for and barriers to expanding medical professions to undocumented physicians and provides recommendations about what stakeholders can do to ensure that this dedicated group of professionals continues meeting healthcare needs nationwide. Medical School Q&A: Undocumented Students Pursuing Medicine DACA, TPS, or non-SSN “After conversations with many medical school officials, supportive allies, current and graduated undocumented medical students, we created this document to answer questions that may come up when considering your path into medicine and hope this can answer your questions.” 2021 Guidance for Residency Programs DACA, TPS, or non-SSN This guide encourages residency programs to consider applicants with DACA for residency slots as they would consider any other applicant. Upon review of applications, you are sure to find that these candidates have substantial accomplishments and a breadth of life experiences, cultural agility, linguistic expertise, and unique perspectives to bring to patient care. Often, individuals with DACA know how to navigate systems in underserved communities that can be an asset to a cohort of trainees. Health Career Pathway Chart for Pre-Health Students in California DACA, TPS, or non-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).” 2020 Guidance for Residency Programs on Considering Applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA “This brief communication provides updated guidance to residency programs on considering applicants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In 2015, we authored a guide that provides comprehensive information on this topic and was subsequently published in Academic Medicine in 2017.1 This update provides supplemental information given changes since 2017 in the legal and political landscape.” Residency for Undocumented Students DACA “PHD is committed to facilitating the application process to residency programs for undocumented applicants by working with undocumented medical students, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), and community and legal organizations. Thus far, we have worked on the following initiatives to support this work…”