DOCTORS ’ NOTES
Christian Godinez gained mentorship and hands-on experience as part of the R-CEINN pathway program .
The Rhode to Success
Local students explore careers in health care with Brown ’ s pathway programs .
BY JONATHAN GARRIS
Maribel Veiga wants to become a doctor for a deeply personal reason : her late father ’ s battle with cancer .
“ It had a major effect on me ,” says Veiga , a sophomore at Providence College . “ I used to try to cure him with water and massages , thinking it would do something . It ’ s just the thought that I could do something to help or make him happy that made me want to go into this career .”
Now Veiga ’ s dream to become a physician has been bolstered with help from Rhode to Medicine , one of a slew of pathway programs at The Warren Alpert Medical School .
Pathway programs offer mentorship and resources to local students , often from historically marginalized groups . The various programs , for middle , high , or undergraduate students , aim to increase access and representation in medicine .
“ Many of these students are at a point where no one has actually told them what to expect from pursuing a career in health care ,” says Dioscaris Garcia , PhD , an assistant dean for diversity , equity , and inclusion at the Medical School who runs a summer orthopedics program for high school students . “ Our main intent is to break things down in a way that makes sense to them .”
In Rhode to Medicine , pre-health students from the University of Rhode Island , Providence College , and Rhode
Island College shadow physicians , visit the anatomy lab , connect with mentors , and gain hands-on skills . Joseph Diaz , MD , MPH , associate dean for diversity and multicultural affairs , says the curriculum offers a glimpse of what the four years of medical school is like . “ We try to give them snapshots of each of those years ,” he says .
After the four-week program ends , Diaz adds , “ We ’ re doing regular check-ins , but we also use our foundational support to provide things like MCAT prep for them .”
Keyline Moreno , a 2021 Rhode to Medicine participant , says she was surprised by the support she had once the program finished . “ I have been able to email and meet [ Diaz ] over the past three years with all of my questions ,” says Moreno , a URI graduate and now a medical student at Howard University .
“ I hope to take full advantage of the opportunity … getting the most I can out of my education to be able to serve underrepresented communities in my professional career ,” she adds .
BRAIN POWER For students who want to study the brain and nervous system , real-world experience is crucial to success . That ’ s why Christian Godinez says his participation in the Research and
8 HEALTH DISCOVERIES @ BROWN l WINTER 2025