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.
“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.”
