ADRIANA C. MARES

impact

medical education

There comes a time in your educational journey from pre-k through college when you experience a jolt of reality, realizing that your actions not only have the potential to fuel the progress of our society — but you're already doing so. It's exciting, it's a bit daring, and I believe it's one of the most important moments of your life.

My moment came unexpectedly during volunteering at the hospital just a few years ago and since then, my passion has become bridging the gap between young, untapped talent and tangible opportunities to make an impact on a local and global scale. Through mentoring, and leading the Institute of Cardiology at El Paso — I hope to lead young science enthusiasts straight to that moment of elation when they finally realize the true extent of their influence.

leadership

Currently, I am the Founder and President of the Institute of Cardiology at El Paso (ICEP), a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization within my diverse and beautiful community of El Paso. My motivation to lead such an organization steemed from my extensive involvement in the field of cardiology which helped me develop a passion to disseminate the knowledge and skills that I have acquired with students from all educational levels and internationally. Thanks to our collaborative partners within our local hospitals, private-owned clinics, medical school, and universities, ICEP provides members with a unique comprehensive view of the field of Cardiology through conferences, shadowing opportunities, physician panels, and other events. Roles such as these allow me to give back to my community all while promoting leadership, and helping other students have similar experiences. I am a huge advocate for making sure that this generation, as well as the next, will do their part to make the world a better place. I want to make sure that nobody feels discouraged to make a change, to create an impact, no matter how small or young they might feel compared to the rest of the world.

I also serve as a member and editor-in-chief for the inaugural American College of Cardiology (ACC) Medical Student Leadership Group. These leadership positions have allowed me to continuously diversify my experiences as a growing individual, a passionate researcher, and a contributor to society.

I also serve as a leadership member and have been the former Editor-in-Chief and Co-Chair for the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Medical Student Member Community. In this role, I have been instrumental in launching several key initiatives, including the Editorial Board, the Cardiovascular Research Initiative, and the group's social media presence and dedicated webpage. These leadership positions have enabled me to continuously diversify my experiences. They have contributed to my growth as an individual, fueled my passion for research, and allowed me to actively contribute to our community of future cardiologists.

(Picture on the left) Recently, at the American College of Cardiology 2024 Scientific Sessions in Atlanta Georgia, I was honored to receive the first "Impact Award" from the ACC Leadership and Membership.

research

Throughout my education, I have both conducted translational and epidemiological research; ranging from elucidating the nanoparticle mechanisms of siRNA binding for glioma therapy to ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health. This has allowed me to partake in the writing, presentation and publication of patient case reports, systematic literature reviews, IRB and grant applications. As a result, these research opportunities have made me realize that it is critical to be immersed in medical literature and to be involved in an atmosphere that encourages aggressive medical research. I am forever grateful to the role models whom I am fortunate enough to call mentors and are the fundamental root cause for my interest in medical research: Dr. Debabrata Mukherjee, Dr. Harsha S. Nagarajarao, and Dr. Chandra P. Ojha.

public health

My hometown of El Paso, TX and its Mexican sister city, Juárez, form one of the world’s largest bi-national metropolitan areas. Historically, it has been medically underserved with healthcare worker shortages, higher rates of uninsured people (23.8%1 vs 11%2 nationally), and higher rates of poverty (20%1 vs 12%3 nationally). Throughout 11 years of volunteering and shadowing, I have witnessed this unfortunate reality which has inspired me to advocate for my community that is primarily serving a Hispanic/Latino immigrant population. This urged me to pursue a Masters of Public Health, with an interest in biostatistics and epidemiology. Namely, I am conducting bivariate analyses to evaluate ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health and the environmental impacts of COVID-19. Locally, I have been involved in educational programs such as the American Heart Association Go Red for Women event, continuing medical education conferences, the National Institute of Health All of Us Research. Nationally, I have participated in roundtable discussions on health sponsored bills with Senator Rodríguez and the team. Internationally, I am a delegate for the Model United Nations to maximize understanding of salient global issues and advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These experiences have taught me that medicine is not just about treating patients, but also looking for ways to improve the system as a whole.

community

I believe that we, as a society, have an inherent obligation to give back to our country which we all share. Through mentoring, public health efforts, volunteering and so much more — my goal is quite simply to leave this world better than I found it.

1. Bureau, U. S. C. (2020, June 26). Income and Poverty in the United States: 2018. The United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-266.html.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, January 20). FastStats - Health Insurance Coverage. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/health-insurance.htm.

3. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: El Paso County, Texas. Census Bureau QuickFacts. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/elpasocountytexas/PST045219.