My name is Lorenzo Quiceno, and I am a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida. I was born in Miami but moved to West Palm Beach when I was only four. I have spent my whole life in South Florida; thus, moving to Gainesville was a significant change for me. During my free time, I love to play basketball pickup games at Southwest Recreation Center and volunteer at the YMCA as a basketball coach. One of my most memorable achievements at UF was establishing a new organization called Passionate Musicians on Call. It is a musical organization dedicated to providing live performances to underserved communities while addressing the social determinants of health. We focus on cultivating community connections to have members perform at elderly homes, homeless shelters, youth centers, veteran hospitals, and Alzheimer’s clinics. After a year of being active, Passionate Musicians on Call won the 2022-2023 “New Organization of the Year” award at the University of Florida.

As a first-generation student, college wasn’t always in the picture, but I was fortunate to get into UF during my senior year of high school. I am majoring in Nutritional Sciences and minoring in Health Disparities with a vision of getting into medical school. As a physician, I want to focus on providing medical services to underserved populations such as the Hispanic community. This passion comes from first-hand experience with how the American health system can fail to assist underprivileged communities, such as my parents, who are undocumented immigrants. Individuals come to this country to achieve a better quality of life yet face social barriers like the health industry that prevent the American Dream; having no legal status is like signing a death sentence for undocumented immigrants. One of my long-term goals is to visit my parents’ countries of Colombia and Honduras to engage in medical mission trips.

Furthermore, to first become a doctor in America, there are many financial barriers ranging from MCAT preparation materials, applications, and the cost of medical school itself. With the help of Dr. Rafael and Mrs. J. Fe Padron de Angulo Scholarship, some financial stress and strain can be relieved. I am truly grateful for this program and the opportunity they have opened up for my family and me; thank you.