Ariella Ruiz

2025

Wake Forest, North Carolina

Biology, Psychology, & Chemistry

My name is Ariella Ruiz and I’m from Wake Forest, North Carolina. I’m interested in majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology on the pre-med track. Science has always been my favorite subject at school and as I grew up I became more interested in biology specifically. I loved using biology to understand why things are the way they are in the natural world. My interest in the medical field began with my mom, who’s a nurse. When I was growing up, she would tell me about her interactions with doctors and patients and I was always fascinated. From then on, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. As I looked deeper into the medical field, I became aware of the lack of diversity among physicians, many only speaking English. As a member of the Latinx community I’ve witnessed first hand how the language barrier between a doctor and patient can affect the quality of care. This further encouraged me to pursue a career as a physician and use my ability to speak Spanish to diminish the language barrier. My current goal is to become a cardiologist, but I’m open to exploring other specialties. At Duke, I’m currently involved in Global Medical Brigades, a nonprofit organization that provides health care services abroad to under resourced communities with limited to no access to medical care. I’m also a member of Mi Gente, a Latinx-based student organization. My hobbies outside of my academics include cooking, reading, and traveling. I look forward to taking advantage of all the opportunities available at Duke. I’m excited to challenge myself and collaborate with my peers in these upcoming years.

Ariella Ruiz
Ariella Ruiz
“Being a Cardea Fellow means living with other premeds in a community we've created full of support and academia. We all have similar mindsets and can connect through our similar experiences.”