My name is Candelaria, or Clara for short.

I am a rising junior at Brown University, where I am concentrating in Medical Anthropology as a pre-medical student. As a freshman, I started working at Hasbro Children's Hospital as an Advocate with Connect For Health, a program that addresses patients' basic needs, such as food and secure housing, in an effort to alleviate social determinants of poor health.

Since last summer, I have been conducting community-engaged health research under Dr. Melissa Palma for Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO). I am thrilled to continue my nutrition research experience with the added dimension of cultural conversation through our study: "Kain na Tayo: Culturally Tailored Multimedia Heart Healthy Nutrition Education for Filipino Americans."

This summer, as part of my Leadership in Action Project, I will be collaborating with HAND-Philippines, a medical humanitarian organization based in Bohol, Philippines, to study the impact of their free cataract surgery program on patients' quality of life, as well as conducting narrative interviews with community members to better understand the long-term effects of their work.

I am always looking for opportunities to connect with researchers, clinicians, and other students who are passionate about positive community impact.