Meet Melissa Juarez - Alumni Spotlight

Melissa Juarez ’22

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Major: Health Sciences

Area of Focus: Pre-Med & Patient Care 

Melissa Juarez ’22 was drawn to UMR because of its strong emphasis on health care and supportive community. “Being surrounded by peers with similar aspirations fueled my motivation. The resources and opportunities UMR provided were instrumental in preparing me for medical school and my journey to becoming a physician,” shared Juarez.

Hands-on experiences while on campus like working at Hiawatha Homes and volunteering with Family Service Rochester allowed her to engage with the geriatric population and boosted her confidence and refined her skill set in patient interactions - invaluable experiences that have directly impacted her clinical rotations. Juarez is currently in her second year of podiatric medical school at Rosalind Franklin University - Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine.

Along with these hands-on experiences, taking courses in psychology and immunology for her Capstone experience helped prepare Juarez for the MCAT and beyond. “The challenging coursework at UMR made my transition into medical school smoother, helping me feel prepared and less overwhelmed by the course load,” shared Juarez. 

Within the supportive community that drew Juarez to attend UMR are Dr. Yuko Taniguchi and Dr. Xavier Prat-Resina who Juarez shared were outstanding instructors and supporters of her. “They encouraged me to have confidence in my abilities as a student and future health care professional.”

Learn more about the Pre-Med & Patient Care area of focus at UMR.