Vital Signs

Biology major Mariah Rutiaga Amaya ’22 discovered a passion for healthcare at Occidental during the COVID-19 pandemic through an internship focused on urban agriculture and food studies. For the first-generation college student, the experience highlighted the interconnectedness of environmental justice, food sovereignty, and health outcomes, which ultimately inspired her to help others by pursuing a career as a physician’s assistant after graduating.

Then came her father’s cancer diagnosis. When chemotherapy rendered him unable to do his job as a maintenance worker, Rutiaga Amaya left her position at an equity-focused in Los Angeles to move home to Denver and assume the role of caregiver and advocate. For months, she navigated barriers in the healthcare system on behalf of her parents, both immigrants from Mexico, accessing resources and applying for grants when her family of six began to experience food and housing insecurity. Her community of neighbors and friends ultimately played an important role in keeping them afloat as well.

This experience taught her the importance—and necessity—of asking for help, which she initially saw as a sign of weakness. It also elucidated a larger mission, she says, of being a person who is committed to uplifting society’s most marginalized members and centering community. A mentor at work, Dr. Kendra Segura, encouraged Rutiaga Amaya to reconsider what she thought was possible and pursue the path of becoming a physician.

“Dr. Segura would talk about her stories and struggles, and seeing that she was able to get through them made me feel capable of doing the same,” Rutiaga Amaya says. “She told me that I was competent enough to do this work and that the field needs more voices like mine.”

Almost two years out from college at the time, Rutiaga Amaya connected with Oxy’s Office of Pre-Health Advising (OPHA) and got help planning prerequisite courses and getting up to speed on other requirements. Following a demanding yearlong application cycle, Rutiaga Amaya was awarded a full scholarship to the UCSF School of Medicine, becoming one of several young alumni who were recently accepted at top-tier medical schools.

During the 2024-25 application cycle, Occidental achieved an 86.3% medical school acceptance rate (more than double the national average) and a 100% dental school acceptance rate. Four alumni received full scholarships from highly competitive schools including UCLA, UCSF, Johns Hopkins University, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

“I couldn't be prouder of these exceptional students who represent diverse academic disciplines and skillfully integrated their experiences and high-impact practices into compelling applications,” says OPHA Director Kat Wang. “These aspiring healthcare leaders have demonstrated remarkable resilience in overcoming significant obstacles and humble beginnings that would deter others.”

The demographics reflect Oxy’s commitment to diversifying healthcare. Among the graduating classes of 2020-25, women comprise 73% of admits, and first-generation college students represent 36%. Popular majors and minors for med school applicants include biology, biochemistry, cognitive science, kinesiology, philosophy, psychology, public health, and sociology, highlighting the academic breadth encouraged by Oxy’s liberal arts curriculum.

Student success is closely linked with the high-touch support they receive from OPHA, both as undergraduates and as alumni. OPHA starts building relationships with pre-health students from the moment they arrive on campus.

“We provide comprehensive support throughout students' pre-medical journeys, encompassing course planning, physician shadowing, clinical internships, research opportunities, academic enrichment programs, and application guidance,” Wang says. “Seeing these students realize their dreams of becoming physicians exemplifies exactly why we do this work: transforming potential into achievement and ensuring the next generation of healthcare providers represents the communities they will serve.”

Rutiaga Amaya says Wang was a “pivotal” part of her journey. “I was initially a bit hesitant to reach out to OPHA because I had already graduated. But Kat sat down with me, took a look at my application, and told me what I would need to do. She would constantly reach out with different opportunities that I could apply to. I don't think I would have been so successful in my application if it wasn't for her mentorship.”

It also highlights the culture at a small school like Oxy, where people share resources on a very personal level. Rutiaga Amaya cites Associate Professor of Biology Cheryl Okumura as another critical source of support throughout the long application process.

Among other OPHA success stories during the 2024-25 application cycle are three recent graduates. Danielle Shores ’22, a cell and molecular biology major from Murrieta, was awarded a full scholarship to the PRIME-LA dual master’s and medical degree program at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine—one of nine admission offers she received. PRIME-LA focuses on the development of community-minded leaders in healthcare.

As an undergrad, Shores did electrophysiology research with Professor of Biology Joseph Schulz, participated in the Peer Health Exchange youth education program, and volunteered at Huntington Hospital. She took gap years to work as an emergency department scribe and a patient liaison, experiences that taught her about barriers to receiving equitable healthcare such as insurance, poverty, and institutional prejudice. Now, she is a clinical research associate at City of Hope in the health equity department.

“While exploring the medical field, I became captivated by the ability to provide comfort and healing in often devastating circumstances,” Shores says. “Learning the impact of healthcare disparities intensified my passion to become a physician who advocates for the improved health of underserved and under-resourced patients.”

James Henderson ’22, a biochemistry major from Santa Rosa, discovered his love for medicine early, when he worked as an emergency medical technician during his senior year of high school. He recently was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

While at Oxy, Henderson conducted infectious disease research with Okumura and interned at the Keck Graduate Institute. Though the pandemic led him to pause his undergraduate education, he used that time to work in field hospitals and ICUs in central and Southern California in addition to volunteering at COVID vaccination clinics. After graduating from Oxy, Henderson earned a master’s degree in bioethics from Harvard University and worked with the Massachusetts General Hospital ethics committee. Most recently he has been working as a life sciences strategy consultant.

“OPHA was indispensable for keeping me on track, despite the numerous twists and turns along the way—particularly those brought about by the pandemic,” Henderson says. “Starting from my first day of orientation, where I received advice on the optimal sequencing of chemistry courses, the OPHA team—especially Kat Wang—supported me each step of the way.”

Lauren Chin ’20, a biochemistry and kinesiology double major from Monterey Park, was offered a full scholarship for both the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins—two highly competitive programs (she ultimately chose the latter). She developed an interest in medicine as a youth playing sports and realized she could combine science and technology with relationships to improve people’s wellbeing at both the individual and population levels.

At Oxy, Chin conducted blood coagulation research with John Stauffer Professor of Chemistry Andrew Udit and received Undergraduate Research Center funding to conduct clinical lab research at City of Hope National Cancer Center. After college, she earned a master’s degree in public health in social and behavioral sciences with an emphasis on chronic disease epidemiology from Yale University. She also worked in professional roles at the Los Angeles Department of Public Health and Ariadne Labs at Harvard University.

Through OPHA’s shadowing program, Chin says, she was able to deepen her understanding of medical specialties and confirm her interest in pursuing a career as a physician. “Attending writing workshops, alumni panels, and informational visits by medical school deans and admissions staff gave me valuable insight into the application process. OPHA provided critical feedback in reviewing my application materials and conducting mock interviews, which greatly strengthened my readiness and confidence.”

Looking ahead to the next five years, Rutiaga Amaya hopes to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology or pediatrics, focusing on addressing disparities in maternal health and birth outcomes for women of color. She is committed to providing patient-centered, compassionate care and empowering her patients to navigate the healthcare system with confidence.

“I want to be there for not only my community but for the most neglected communities navigating the health system,” she says. “I want to be a physician who is able to mobilize resources for patients so they do not fall through the cracks. As long as I'm making a difference in at least one person's life, that will be a success for me.”

Top photo: Mariah Rutiaga Amaya ’22 outside the Hameetman Career Center in June.