About
Minerva grew up in Berkeley, California with her mother, father, 2 sisters and brother. She attended UC Berkeley, where she majored in integrative biology and participated in the Biology Scholars Program. While in college she worked various jobs that included tutoring elementary, high school and Biology Scholars Program students. Minerva participated in the Undergraduate Research Program at UCSF medical school in the summer of 2009, where she worked on research projects related to women’s health. After graduating from UC Berkeley she continued tutoring for the Biology Scholars Program, and later worked at the Tang Center, the Health Center at UC Berkeley, and the Cal Rec Sports Marketing. Her passion for working with the underserved and improving their health developed from witnessing hardships suffered by her family and community during times of labor and delivery and the few times any of them received medical care. One of the main reasons she chose the David Geffen School of Medicine and its Prime program is that she feels it will help her reach her goal of ultimately becoming a physician who serves the underserved. At UCLA, Minerva is part of the LMSA, Drew, and the OB/Gyn interest group. She enjoys taking dance classes, partaking in the Wooden Center group exercise classes (especially Zumba), and watching Hulu programs.
Undergrad Institution: UC Berkeley
Hometown: Berkeley, CA