When Sandra Acevedo first came to the United States at age 10, she didn’t know anybody who spoke Spanish like she did.
But with the support of her family and mentors, Acevedo not only learned English but has gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California Riverside and a master’s in public health degree (with a focus on nutrition) from Loma Linda University.
Acevedo currently works for a diabetes prevention and management program that provides services in underserved areas of Los Angeles County.
In search of information about applying to doctoral programs, she heard about and decided to apply to the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program, which offers a five-day summer institute and internships to encourage master’s-level students and health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a cancer research career.
“Attending the Éxito! Summer Institute helped me realize that obtaining a doctoral degree is attainable, and I now have the confidence in myself to take that next step towards my educational career,” Acevado said.
