My name is Juliana Peña Lopez and I am a first year medical student in the University of Florida College of Medicine Class of 2026. I also completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Disabilities in Society. 

I was born and raised in Bucaramanga, Colombia, and moved to the U.S. with my parents at eleven years old. Growing up in Colombia allowed me to witness the struggles brought on by poverty and lack of access to healthcare disrupt most other aspects of life. After migrating to the U.S., I experienced these struggles in times when my family or I urgently needed medical attention but could not receive it. These experiences greatly drove me to pursue a medical career path grounded in improving the health outcomes of underserved populations. 

Years later, when I arrived at UF, I sought opportunities to serve vulnerable populations. I began volunteering at the Equal Access Clinic, a clinic that provides free healthcare to underserved communities, as a freshman and served many underserved patients. I also attended a medical campaign in Peru, where I further witnessed health disparities as we cared for villagers that traveled hours by foot in the hot summer to see a doctor for the first time. Playing a direct role in helping underserved individuals receive adequate health care that translates into improved life experiences confirmed my dreams of becoming a physician who works towards health equity.

Shaped by the moments of powerlessness my family and I experienced as new immigrants, I have recognized the significance of advocacy and cultural humility in healthcare. I have continued to cultivate these values as a medical student by volunteering at the Equal Access Clinic where I mostly work with Spanish-speaking patients, and at UFCOM’s StreetMedicine Program, where I help provide medical care to homeless individuals in Gainesville. As a physician, I aspire to be the bridge between the obstacles brought on by health disparities and reaching health equity. I will use my voice to advocate for every one of my patients and alleviate the uncertainties that come with being a marginalized minority.