Family Matters

The ceremonial donning of the white coat at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine marks the beginning of a new chapter. As the 140 new medical students received their white coats on August 27, the ceremony became a celebration of the people, experiences and aspirations that brought each student to medicine. For many students, that inspiration began close to home—with family.

Nicole Zuno's younger sister Michelle, who was born with a neurological disorder, has served as Nicole's primary motivator to pursue medicine.

“One of the things that my family has had to grapple with is how little is understood about conditions like Michelle’s and how few treatment options are available,” said Zuno. “It’s been incredibly difficult to watch someone I love lose abilities over time while feeling powerless to stop it. As I got older, that helplessness turned into a desire to understand her disease and find ways to help patients like her. From Michelle, I’ve learned so much resilience and bravery, and the importance of continuing to ask questions when medicine doesn’t yet have the answers. Her experience also showed me how much research can change what is possible for patients. I want to be a physician who not only cares for patients, but who also works to redefine what is possible for them.”

Zuno, who earned The Gates Scholarship as a high school student, attended Harvard University and earned a bachelor’s degree in human developmental and regenerative biology. Zuno credits her parents with providing a powerful example of how to live life.

“My family is my everything. They're my motivation. They are my past, present and future. Everything I do is for them,” she said. “My dad has an incredible work ethic, and my mom does everything with so much love, humility and grace. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons from them and my siblings.”

Your life is no longer solely your own. Your life is now given in service to others. Wear your white coat with grace humility. Your patients and their loved ones will trust you with their lives. 

— Michelle Daniel, MD, vice dean for medical education at the School of Medicine

For Antonio Santana, the commitment to caring for others is rooted in a deep sense of responsibility to his tribal community and profound respect for his mother’s nursing career. Raised in Massachusetts, Santana earned bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology, and psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  A citizen of the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians, Santana learned about the importance of family bonds and caregiving at a young age when his grandfather underwent a double leg amputation due to complications from diabetes.

“Watching my mom and helping her to provide care to my grandfather opened my eyes to what is happening in my tribal community,” said Santana. “My grandfather’s experience is not an isolated one, it’s a systemic issue in tribes across the country. It made me want to be a part of something bigger than myself by bringing healing into Native communities who are often overlooked.”

Santana is part of the Program in Medical Education -Transforming Indigenous Doctor Education (PRIME-TIDE), a five year MD/master’s program designed to prepare medical students for careers focused on providing health care to Native populations. 

“When I was looking for schools, I knew I wanted to focus on Native health. PRIME-TIDE was the most robust program I found. Being from Massachusetts, this is really my first time away from home. I am really excited about being here and learning all that I can. I want to bring everything I learn back to my community and someday create a health clinic or health services to serve our tribal citizens.”

As Mayra Mendiola accepted her white coat at the ceremony, she was making a public commitment to a lifetime of learning. 

“When I first came to UC San Diego as an undergraduate student, I didn’t really know what a PhD was or what my options were in science and medicine. The PATHS Scholars Program  showed me all of the opportunities available to me and helped me get my first research experiences,” said Mendiola, who earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology.

Today, Mendiola is a medical student in the Medical Scientist Training Program, an MD/PhD program designed to train physician scientists who will treat patients in a clinical setting, while also conducting laboratory research. 

“What we can learn in textbooks is not definitive,” she said. “It is exciting to be able to ask almost any question and know there are an infinite number of follow-up questions that we can ask. As much as that can be overwhelming at times, it is also inspiring and encouraging to know that there are so many ways that I can contribute to finding answers.”

As a first-generation, low-income Latina student she says that growing up she really didn’t know how far she could go, but that her family always encouraged her to work hard and say yes to any opportunities that came her way.

“My parents never told me what path I should follow but seeing them work tirelessly and endlessly to provide for me and my brothers motivated and encouraged me. They showed me that if I worked hard and studied diligently, I could pursue anything,” she said. “Now I can say that I will become someone in this world, not because of what I have accomplished, but because my parents accomplished so much and sacrificed so much for me. They taught me to treat everyone around me with humility and compassion, especially the patients I will have the privilege to care for whose stories may mirror theirs.”

When Nundini Varshney was an undergraduate at UC San Diego, her cousin was finishing medical school at the School of Medicine. 

“I was on the medical school campus for my cousin’s Match Day ceremony,” said Varshney. “It was exciting and inspiring to be there. I listened to the dean talking about specialties and everyone’s journey to get there. It was emotional. I was already pretty much set on becoming a doctor but going through that Match Day celebration and watching my cousin opening the envelope solidified the path for me.”

Varshney began her undergraduate studies at UC San Diego majoring in business, but after seeing her cousin’s medical school journey she switched to studying biology and began work as a hospice caretaker and a medical assistant at an oncology clinic. 

“After working in the clinic, I knew medicine was the path for me. Several of my grandparents have cancer so it’s important to me to be in a field where I can help people,” said Varshney. “There is an Indian word, seva, which means devotion or selfless service to others. It’s a value that has always been important to me, instilled by my family.”

That connection to family and service has extended beyond the United States. Varshney grew up spending summers in India with her family, and later returned to the country as a Fulbright Scholar, living with her extended family while working in public health. The experience gave her a deeper understanding of her family roots and expanded her perspective on health and community.

As she looks ahead to medical school, Varshney knows that her family will be with her every step of the way, supporting her. “We are all really well connected even though we are all across the world,” she said. “We always make the effort to stay in touch with one another, we even have a 40-person family group chat.”
 

For many of the first-year medical students, family has been more than a source of inspiration. Their families have shaped the values, experiences and sense of purpose they bring to medicine. As they begin their training, those lessons will remain with them, reminding them why they chose to become physicians and whom they hope to serve.

“Above all, remember that medicine is built on relationships — with your patients, your colleagues and your community. Those relationships depend on empathy and understanding as much as they depend on expertise. Welcome to the School of Medicine and congratulations on this wonderful milestone.”

— Barbara Jung, MD, associate vice chancellor and dean of the School of Medicine

Incoming Class of 2026 By the Numbers

Congratulations to the newest class of medical students!