Kimberly Juarez grew up in South Central Los Angeles. She made her way to Syracuse University in Upstate New York where she obtained a BS in Nutrition Science, a BA in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture, and a minor in Chemistry. As a first generation student she witnessed her parents struggle to obtain consistent and adequate health care. Her experiences as a daughter of Guatemalan immigrants inspired her to pursue a career in medicine and to always make the most of an opportunity to learn. She is passionate about working with underserved communities and hopes to continue involvement in research throughout her career. In 2017 she participated in the Harvard Catalyst Clinical Research Program where she worked on a project that assessed sexual health risks of sexual minority women. After college she was a research coordinator for the Malnutrition, Diet, and Racial Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease Study at the UC Irvine Department of Nephrology for 2 years. She is currently exploring research in issues impacting undocumented populations and hopes to hone in on her research interest. In her spare time, she enjoys attending concerts, watching cooking shows and not making anything, and going on hikes around Los Angeles.

Undergrad Institution: Syracuse University

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA