My name is Jesus Bastian and I am a first-generation transfer student, currently completing my senior year at UC Davis and will be graduating as a Global Disease Biology major and Chicano Studies minor. I currently serve as Vice President of the Teens for Screens student organization which aims to educate high school students in disadvantaged areas on breast cancer. I am also on the leadership team for the American Cancer Society Club which promotes advocacy, cancer education, and survivorship as well as an annual Relay for Life fundraiser on campus. As a GDB major I have connected with my peers and work alongside many of them as a volunteer at the Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic, a student-run free clinic that provides healthcare services to uninsured patients, primarily those who use drugs, are unhoused, work in the sex trade, or identify as LGBTQIA+. As a future doctor, it is important to practice cultural humility so patients from diverse backgrounds can feel comfortable in the healthcare setting. Respecting a person’s beliefs, identity, and culture is important in establishing trust so that a patient can openly communicate their needs and concerns.

Being a GDB major has also given me the opportunity to explore different interests through a variety of restricted electives and gain research experience through the GDB Practicum. I am a research assistant at Fejerman Lab, working on cervical cancer research and community health education. I am also working with Dr. Shani Buggs at UC Davis Health in conducting research on gun violence prevention for my senior practicum. Through the core classes and electives I have completed in public health, microbiology, and chicano studies, I have developed a passion for health education and increasing diversity in the medical field. After graduating, I plan to attend medical school and aspire to work with underserved communities and advocate for my patients as a physician. I am also looking forward to studying abroad in the Fall as part of the Latinx Health Internship in Oaxaca, Mexico program. Overall, being a GDB major has made me a well-rounded student and has prepared me to succeed in medical school and beyond.