About
Viviana was born and raised in Mexicali, B.C., México, and proudly calls Brawley her second home. She received her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley as a double major in Molecular & Cell Biology and Spanish/Bilingual Issues. She remained at UC Berkeley to continue tutoring and working for the Biology Scholars Program. During this time Viviana became involved in the UCSF/UCB-El Salvador/ASAPROSAR’s Children’s Oral Health & Nutrition Project as a volunteer in El Salvador and served as project coordinator from 2008 to 2010. After completing the UC Davis School of Medicine’s Postbaccalaureate Program, she went on to tutor for Achieve Learning Resource Center. Prior to starting medical school Viviana worked in the Peers for Progress study as a Research Associate for UCSF’s Family & Community Medicine Department in San Francisco General Hospital.
This year, Viviana is the Education Administrator Chief for the UCLA Student-Run Homeless Clinics, is part of the SNMA board, and volunteers for SRHC and IDEPSCA Day Laborers ESL project. While at UCLA, she continues to mentor pre-medical and pre-health students near and far to help them achieve their own goals. Her own family’s struggles and lack of access to health care ignited her passion to advocate for and make a difference in the lives of underserved families. She believes that no differences in language, culture, education or access should bar communities in need from receiving the right to quality care. This greatly influenced her decision to choose UCLA’s PRIME program as her path to becoming a future leader-physician. Viviana is currently an MS3 and is preparing to apply for an MPP program to be completed prior to her MS4 year.
Undergrad Institution: UC Berkeley
Hometown: Mexicali, B.C.; Brawley, CA