Summer Health Professions Education Program 2019

Afaq Barakzai Aileen Mendoza Alexandra (Lexie) Carpenter COMP COMP COMP George Mason University Cal State San Bernardino UCLA

Coming into SHPEP, I was unsure about SHPEP was a very enriching experience, SHPEP has given me friends from all my career aspirations. Thanks to the not only were the faculty incredibly over the country and the world. My curriculum, faculty, and my peers, I amazing people but my fellow scholars arm is permanently scarred from have narrowed down my interests. On were also all very welcoming people. volleyball and water polo, and I can top of this, I made many new lifelong I will always carry the memories I've never trust communal fridges again. friends and have explored the beautiful made with my friends here close to my But I miss y’all already. When’s the parts of California! heart. reunion tho?

Alexis De Guzman Alexis Garofalo Alondra Gonzalez COMP COMP COMP Fullerton College Montclair State University University of Puerto Rico,

Rio Piedras Campus Thank you to SHPEP for blessing me SHPEP has been an unforgettable with this incredible opportunity to experience. I have learned so much and SHPEP has given me enrichment work with remarkable individuals from met so many kind individuals from all opportunities. I am grateful for all the diverse backgrounds. Time flew by as over the U.S. I'm positive that our friends I have made here and am wonderful memories were created cohort will be successful in our future excited to see all of them become with what started as strangers and endeavors! health care providers. ended up as a family.

Ambriana (Amber) Sykes Amethyst Hall Ana Mort Dental Dental COMP Lamar University Western Michigan University Bellarmine University

SHPEP exceeded my expectations and I appreciate the opportunity to meet I loved being surrounded by so many has confirmed my desire to pursue other students interested in health care different languages and cultures. dentistry. I am thankful for the overall careers and have similar experiences Staying up late and going to LA with experience and exposure to people and backgrounds to mine. It has shown everyone was a lot of fun. (: from different backgrounds. me cities experience similar issues with their health care systems.

Anjli Patel Anthony Chavarria-Garcia Anyéla Saa Optometry COMP COMP Nova Southeastern University UC Riverside Jackson State University

I’m so thankful for this experience and Because of SHPEP, I was able to not SHPEP has made me confident in all the friends I have made. only make 79 friends but finally make deciding to pursue a career in connections into the medical field, find medicine. I really enjoyed being out about ways to be a competitive surrounded by other aspiring students applicant for medical school, and with an interest in different health realize that I can handle a rigorous professions. I am grateful for this once course load. in a lifetime learning experience!

Athena Chen Atif Osmani Avery Pardue Optometry Dental COMP Carnegie Mellon University The University of Chicago North Carolina Agriculture &

Technical State University I was able to meet like-minded people I came to this program looking for from around the country who are clarity about my future. I found out My SHPEP experience was very equally as passionate about healthcare that I do want to be in the healthcare informative and I enjoyed the as I am. I had hands on experience that sector, but I still haven't found the exposure, and it was amazing to meet I can’t experience elsewhere which perfect path for me. That's fine so many interesting people throughout allowed me to be confident in pursuing because I've learned that no one path is the program. optometry as a profession. the same.

Axel Cervantes Benjamin Chung Brittney Obanor Physical Therapy Dental COMP University of Nebraska at Omaha The University of Texas at San Antonio University of Southern California

It was a great opportunity that gave It's amazing how a group of random SHPEP has been one of the best me hands-on experience in the students from across the country experiences I have ever had. Not only healthcare career I want to pursue. became so close to each other in a have I learned so much about my Everyone in SHPEP started as short amount of time. future career and developed valuable strangers, but we became family after skills, but I have also forged lasting a day of meeting each other. friendships and memories with such great people.

Cara Moussa Carlos Melchor Caroline Onwuzu COMP COMP Optometry UC Riverside California State University, Chico University of Texas at Austin

SHPEP has been such an eye opening Thanks to SHPEP, I have had the best I’ve met so many people from different experience for me. Being exposed to so summer of my life. Not only did this cultures around the world. I love my many different people who come from program provide me an intensive SHPEP fam. Every one of you volleyball such diverse backgrounds and learning experience but it also gave me playing, boba drinking, food stealing, experiences forced me to think about the opportunity to meet great people & water polo playing people will be the people outside my bubble. SHPEP make unforgettable memories In-N-Out missed! has been extremely worthwhile. of class. I love ya'll.

Changho Kim Cheyenne Taylor Courtney Cummings Dental COMP Dental Union College Loyola Marymount University University of Hartford

SHPEP is definitely a life changing What an eye-opening experience that The best thing I have experienced here experience. Not only did it further exceeded my expectations! I’m beyond is meeting so many amazing people at improve my knowledge of dentistry grateful to have been a part of this WesternU. I have made more but it also reaffirmed my decision of program and have met the wonderful, connections with SHPEP scholars, going to dental school. I have also met smart, and actually hilarious people faculty, and dental students than I can my future colleagues and lifelong that I hope to stay in touch with count. Thank you to everyone who friends in this program. Thank you. especially during application season  made my experience so amazing!

Dariana Flores Darius Graham Diego Mendez Dental COMP COMP Washington State University Haverford College University of Puerto Rico: Mayaguez Campus

It was nice meeting people from SHPEP was one of the most interesting Thank you all for making the SHPEP different backgrounds and academic programs I have experienced in my life. experience an amazing one. From all the interests. I met some very extraordinary people “yokes” that were made to all the and experienced healthcare in a way I unforgettable nights, I will cherish every never have before. This was a great single memory and if anyone ever comes precursor to my medical career that I to PR you already know you’ll have a will never forget! personal tour guide.

Dowha Karar Edward Hernandez Emily Mendoza COMP Dental COMP University of Richmond Washington State University Stanford University

SHPEP has been an overall memorable SHPEP was a great learning experience I am incredibly thankful for the honest experience. I’m walking away with not and a good way to meet many others in and genuine conversations I had only great insight on what my future the same track. throughout the course of the program! holds academically, but also I feel like I learned something special meaningful friendships and bonds from everyone here, and I’m looking I will always be grateful and forward to seeing how we all thrive and appreciative for. grow in the future!

Erica Chan Ezza Awais Feguy Mangnan COMP Optometry Physical Therapy University of California, San Diego Stony Brook University St. Francis College

Everything was cool. We all walked into the room strangers- My experience at SHPEP was great. I had now look at us. When I look around I the opportunity to make many new see faces that I have grown close to friends. I love the way we stayed bonded and friends who have made this together and got to know each other. summer a memorable one. So thank We shared food and played games you to everyone who has made SHPEP together. After dinner we would go to an unforgettable experience, iykyk. play volleyball or soccer; even if nobody could stop me from scoring :) jokes lol.

Gabriel Asmar Gabriela Lopez Gizman Baraso Dental COMP COMP Assumption College Arizona State University The University of Texas at Dallas

I’m forever indebted to everyone that WesternU SHPEP has allowed me to helped make this experience possible. meet so many brilliant, talented, and Thank you for the memories that I will motivated individuals and learn so always cherish, and I wish you all the much about the medical field. I am so very best in your future endeavors. thankful for the friendships that I have built here with amazing people that I know will last a lifetime.

Hodan Ibrahim Hussam Abdelgadir Immanuel (Manny) Abbo Dental Optometry Physical Therapy University of Washington Seattle The Ohio State University Whitworth University

SHPEP was a great opportunity that SHPEP has connected me with an The people involved in this program reinforced my interest in becoming a amazing group of people in such a have been genuine, fun, passionate, dentist. The sim labs and shadowing short amount of time. I am thankful and of course intelligent. This opportunities made me more exited to that we got to learn together, grow combined with the many opportunities pursue this career. The teachers, staff, together, and enjoy our time here with to bond, learn, and explore the and new friends I met made this one another. California landscape made SHPEP a experience more enjoyable. truly extraordinary experience.

Jalynne Brown Janeth Mora-Martinez Jean-Carlos Gutierrez Optometry COMP COMP Howard University Smith College Pacific Union College

I’ve had the best summer and I will I’ve met a lot of great people with This experience was very unique in miss truly everyone!! whom I had an unforgettable more ways that I expected it to be. The experience. friendships and memories that were built over these past 6 weeks are unforgettable. Playing volleyball every day after dinner and staying up to play Uno were my favorite.

Jennifer Cruz Jennifer Zhou Jessica VillaIvazo COMP Optometry Dental UCLA University of California, Riverside Cal State University San Bernardino

This was an extraordinary experience in I am so fortunate to be a part of this The best part about SHPEP was which I learned new things and met program and to be surrounded by like- meeting likeminded people from all amazing people from across the minded individuals who want to better different places. We all share so many country. I enjoyed getting to hear the healthcare field. This program has memories we will never forget from different stories and having the time to reaffirmed my passion and drive to be a lecture to hanging out outside of class. go for a run together or going out to healthcare professional. Shoutout to my asians #Asians+Jess eat. and to the throwdown group ily guys

Joanna Elhaj Joanne Jeong Jose Aguilera COMP Dental Physical Therapy University of Houston Tufts University Whitworth University

SHPEP has been the best experience “But wait, let me take a photo!” It's been a SHPEP ALPHA Summer! by far. I have learned more about my SHPEP has helped me to be profession, met new people, and had open-minded while I OBSERVE my hands-on experience. I wish to see us surroundings, FOCUS on it, CAPTURE become successful in achieving our the unforgettable moments from goals and making our dream a reality. running away, and SAVE & REFLECT I hope we may one day reunite. back on these valuable experiences and memories.

Kaitlyn Coronel Kaleigh Whitfield Katherine Xia COMP COMP Dental Cal Poly Pomona Howard University UC San Diego

Learned a lot, met amazing people, and I am happy I was able to spend my 6 SHPEP was a great experience that had a great experience! weeks in an amazing program, meet allowed me to explore the dental field phenomenal people, and work towards as well learn from esteemed faculty my career goals. and students. The program was a once in a lifetime experience that cemented my interest in the health professions field.

Kayla Jones Kenia Pochette Kimberly Imoh Optometry COMP COMP Florida A&M University Juniata College Baylor University

SHPEP has been one of the best The past weeks spent at SHPEP were an My experience at SHPEP is one I will opportunities I’ve experienced. I can’t educational adventure. I learned that forever cherish. Through this program, I wait to apply the knowledge I’ve the future of healthcare is in the best have had the opportunity to meet a learned from SHPEP to my future hands possible. The friends and cohort of amazing individuals and make career. memories I’ve made, I will carry them a lifetime of great memories! with me always.

Lauren Granger Leowell Cristobal Michaela Joseph COMP Physical Therapy Physical Therapy University of Oregon United States Air Force Academy Ithaca College

I'm very grateful for the people that Even though my time was cut short, Thankful for this experience!! SHPEP has allowed me to meet and the I had an amazing SHPEP experience experiences that it gave me. I've made because of all you guys! Huge shout out friends for a lifetime and learned so to the WesternU faculty, the RPAs, my much about myself, along with PT family, and to the entire WesternU SHPEP family! Truly grateful for this healthcare, in these last 6 weeks. opportunity!

Miriam Akomeah Nathaniel Osbourne Omolara Akinfemiwa COMP Optometry Dental The Ohio State University Valencia College Syracuse University

I’ll never forget this experience! Each Met a lot of diverse and worldly people This program solidified that dentistry is and every one of you all made an here. If this is the next generation of what I want to do with the rest of my impact in my life, so thank you. ❤ our doctors & saviors, I feel strangely life. This program also gave me that concerned & safely secured. If you extra fire to pursue this profession. I'm think you can tell who they are from a forever grateful for this experience. group pic, you've severely underestimated their depth.

Orlyne Megouang Fah Pamela Okoli Rachel Saikaly Dental Physical Therapy COMP Loyola University Maryland University of Houston University of California, Santa Barbara

My experience with SHPEP was very SHPEP was an amazing experience. I This experience was very special. I met amazing because I met nice people. feel blessed to have had the many people who shared the same Also, I had the opportunity to go into opportunity to meet so many dreams as me and I had a lot of fun. the cadaver lab, which helped me have wonderful peers, faculty, and health a better understanding about the professionals. I know the memories and human body. knowledge gained in this program will last me a lifetime.

Rebecca Lopez Ronald (Alex) Herrera Samuel Higuera Dental COMP COMP Lehman College University of Nevada, Reno UC Riverside

I am so honored to get to be a part of I loved getting to know new people, SHPEP has been an incredible a program that supports future health and learning more about different experience that has strengthened my professionals. It has been an healthcare professions! passion for medicine and has allowed exceptional experience. me to meet some amazing people. I will cherish these memories forever :)

Sara Cardona Soleil Dancy-Taliaferro Stephanie Estrada Physical Therapy Physical Therapy COMP University of South Florida Community College of Philadelphia University of California, Riverside

I thank my cohort for opening up and Six weeks isn't long enough to study for To say my times with you guys were inspiring me. With all the laughs, the MCAT, DAT, GRE or OAT; but it's amazing is truly an understatement. I hardships, and adventures shared, my long enough to create a bond with am so fortunate to know that wherever perspective on healthcare has been amazing people. From the bottom of I go in the country, I will have a newly shaped. I will move forward in my heart, from one future doctor to compassionate friend, a doctor, a PA, my career in hopes of making a another: thank you for being you. a PT, an optometrist, and a dentist that difference for all populations. (P.S. If you're ever in Philly...) <3 I can count on. #SHPEP2019 ❤

Stephanie MontaIvan Taylor Geffre Tenzin Seldoen Oshoe COMP COMP COMP Delaware State University South Dakota State University Cornell University

The SHPEP experience broadened my This experience has helped me grow so SHPEP was an unforgettable experience horizons in many ways from much as a person. I couldn't have asked that impacted my life in many exceptional knowledge to amazing for a better way to spend my summer drastically different ways. I am thankful friendships! or a better cohort to spend my summer for the program and the valuable with. I will be forever grateful to have connections I have made with the been a part of this outstanding WesternU faculty, as well as the bonds I program! have formed with the other SHPEPers.

Thinh Tran Tsewang Dolkar Vanessa Coleman Dental COMP COMP Orange Coast Community College University of Wisconsin-Madison University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

SHPEP gave me the opportunity to One of the most memorable moments I am so blessed to have been able to grow as an individual and a future in SHPEP was when we did a surprise participate in SHPEP. I made lifelong health professional. water balloon/gun attack on the friends, tried new things, learned new unsuspecting SHPEPers. It was a great concepts, networked with professionals, bonding experience to see people join and gained knowledge that will last me a in and grab the balloons and have fun lifetime. Thank you SHPEP for this amazing with one another. opportunity.

Victoria Osanyinpeju Vincent Osekwe Yousif Naser COMP COMP Dental Norco College Bowie State University Michigan State University

SHPEP has been such a great way to SHPEP was a great experience. I got to This was a great experience and I am spend my summer. I’m so glad I had meet wonderful people and learn more very happy to have shared an amazing the opportunity to meet so many about what it means to be a doctor. time with very intelligent and caring people from all over and make so people. many new besties!

Zhi Lin Zoe Guerra Dental Dental University of Central Florida Rowan University

SHPEP really solidified my track for pre- My experience at SHPEP was beyond dental. This program really helped me my expectations. The hours I was given connect with like-minded people that to shadow and the networking share the same goals. I'm really grateful opportunities gave me a clearer for the opportunity to learn more understanding of what to expect when about my career and also make lifelong I apply for dental school. I will friends. remember this summer for the rest of my life.

SHPEP Resident Peer Advisors (RPAs)

Crystal Sin Hector Cordero Jeffon Stubbs Optometry Dental COMP WesternU College of Optometry CSU San Bernardino Morgan State University

It was a pleasure to meet such amazing From morning curriculum to late night It was one of the most rewarding individuals this summer and I hope shenanigans, these past weeks have experiences to impact and influence everyone made wonderful memories! offered such a unique summer. I wish others through my experience from I wish you all the best in your future you all the best of luck and hope you all SHPEP 2018. It was a pleasure to meet endeavors! Always remember that you can recall all of those amazing and interact with a cohort of such can do great things as long as you put memories that were made this unique and focused individuals. Also, I your mind to it! summer! had the best colleagues ever!

Jubilee Ahazie Marissa Valdovinos Michael Simon, MS COMP COMP Dental THEE University of Southern California Scripps College Western University of Health Sciences

Being an RPA was such a rewarding What makes SHPEP special is its ability As a future healthcare professional, I experience. I enjoyed dancing in the to illustrate the power of diversity and its want to become a positive platform for afternoon, playing volleyball in the rightful place in the health professions. pre-health students from disadvantaged evenings, and having thoughtful I will carry all of the beautiful memories backgrounds. I believe that diversity in conversations at night. Each of you (volleyball games, sing-alongs, and healthcare is the solution to improving made this program memorable and for shared meals) I have made here in my access to care, and SHPEP has allowed that I am so thankful! Stay blessed. heart. I am proud of y’all. ❤ me to play a role in that process.

SHPEP Alliance Team

Guadalupe “Mirtha” Soltero, Helen Musharbash, Dean Steven Friedrichsen, DDS. Dr. Elizabeth Rega, Maria Moreno

Sean Rowan, MA Tanisha Hampton Alejandra Cervantes Anthropology Sean Rowan, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, WesternU College of Dental Medicine Smith College 2019

As a first-generation college graduate the mission and vision of SHPEP is close to my These past six weeks have been proof heart. I believe SHPEP is a wonderful program that provides an excellent opportunity for of your commitment to a better future students who are seeking to learn and grow professionally. To the 2019 Scholars, I wish not solely for yourselves, but the you much continued success as you further your education and aspirations to become healthcare professionals. communities around you. I wish you all the best of luck on your future Tanisha Hampton, Director of Operations College of Biomedical Sciences endeavors. Thrive in your struggle and Being a Den Parent for the past three years has been a wonderful experience. I am so thrive in your success. happy to have met such hard working and compassionate scholars. Keep moving forward and know that the WesternU family will continue to provide support.

On behalf of WesternU SHPEP staff, faculty and administration, congratulations to the SHPEP 2019 scholars for completing this rigorous but very rewarding program!!! We know you will all thrive in your respective health career paths and will make the world a better place.