Valeria is a medical student from Mexico at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She obtained her BA in Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University, where she gained experience in teaching, mentoring, and basic science research. The rest of her time was dedicated to volunteering with migrants and refugees in educational and clinical settings. Following her undergraduate degree, she worked as a healthcare assistant at Planned Parenthood, where she became passionate about trauma-informed care. She then obtained a Master of Public Health at Columbia University during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Talk to Valeria about exploring research paths, gap years, and applying to medical school!