Mentor Name: Paula Aristizabal

Cancer transcends geography, language, and socioeconomic status, yet outcomes are not experienced equally. Hispanic children have a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and disparities in survival persist despite significant therapeutic advances. Under the mentorship of Dr. Paula Aristizabal, Professor of Pediatrics at UC San Diego, I will investigate how SDoH influence enrollment in therapeutic clinical trials among children with ALL. This POST project aligns closely with both my personal background and my professional aspirations. As someone from a community disproportionately affected by structural inequities, I feel compelled to contribute to research that seeks to understand and address these gaps. The POST Award, along with mentorship from Dr. Aristizabal, will deepen my understanding of how sound clinical research is conducted and how results can inform real-world improvements in care. Moreover, it will enable networking with other medical students and researchers in the Alex’s Lemonade Stand family.