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Personal encounters with healthcare inequities can shape the decision to pursue medicine.

So was the case for Saimon Acevedo Ortiz, a third-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). Raised in the Washington Heights community of Manhattan, New York after immigrating to the United States from the Dominican Republic, he saw firsthand some of the barriers to culturally and linguistically concordant healthcare that his family and community faced.

“Seeing my mom, who suffers from Type 2 Diabetes, unable to find a doctor who could help her understand and manage her chronic illness is one of the main reasons I want to become a physician,” said Acevedo Ortiz.

He hopes to one day help reduce barriers that can make patients hesitant to seek care, particularly when they feel they may not be understood by their healthcare providers.

That goal is especially important amid a persistent gap in Latino representation in medicine. While 19% of the United States population identifies as Latino, fewer than 7% of physicians identify as Latino or Latina.

Acevedo Ortiz observed the significance of that gap during high school while participating in Doctors Reaching Minority Men Exploring Neuroscience (Dr. MMEN), a mentorship and summer enrichment program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Founded by his mentor, Dr. Ian McNeill, the program aimed to provide early exposure, mentorship, and inspiration to high school–age Black and Latinx men.

“During that experience, I saw very few Black and Latino physicians in the hospital,” Acevedo Ortiz said. “Being in that program and seeing Dr. McNeil made me realize that maybe this was a profession I could pursue.”

That experience continues to influence the way Acevedo Ortiz views his own path through medical school. As a first-generation medical student, he sees his background not as a limitation, but as a source of perspective and motivation.

“A lot of people don’t go to the doctor because they leave feeling even more confused than when they went in,” he said. “I want to go into the community and make sure patients can trust their doctors and feel comfortable seeking healthcare when they need it.”

The gap in Latino physician representation that Acevedo Ortiz witnessed in New York is not unique to that state. By 2050, 50% of California’s population is expected to be Latino and an additional 37,000 Latino physicians will be needed to achieve parity.

CDU is helping address that need by preparing physicians and other healthcare professionals who are not only highly trained, but deeply rooted in the values of community, excellence, and compassion.

Acevedo Ortiz now mentors students in CDU’s Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree Program, drawing on his own experience to help students navigate their future career goals. 

His commitment to service and community has also been recognized nationally. Acevedo Ortiz is one of 20 medical students selected for the 2026–2027 National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)/National Medical Fellowships (NMF) $10,000 Scholarship.

“This recognition not only eases the financial burden of medical school but also motivates me to continue advocating for underserved and Spanish-speaking patients,” shared Acevedo Ortiz. “I hope my journey encourages other students from similar backgrounds to believe that a career in medicine is possible.”