First-gen COM students, scholarship winners aim to give back

Monday, January 27, 2025

Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | sara.plummer@okstate.edu

Carleen Perez and Samuel Alvarado have a lot in common.

Both are first-generation college graduates. Their families are both from Mexico. Both are second-year students at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. They both have a desire to give back and improve the lives of people in their community. 

And both were recently named Sherry R. Arnstein Underrepresented Minority Scholarship winners by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Alvarado and Perez are two of only seven Sherry R. Arnstein scholarship winners nationwide this year. 

“Receiving this scholarship alongside my close friend Sam is truly an honor, and I am incredibly proud to share this moment with someone who has been such an important part of my journey,” said Perez, who has served with Alvarado as an OSU-COM student ambassador and as members of the Latino Medical Student Association. 

“We’ve shared countless memories together at OSU-COM, and through it all, we’ve built a strong community with our fellow Latinos. In our Latino community, if one of us wins, we all win, so to know we both were chosen for such an amazing honor makes it even better,” she said.

Alvarado also noted that since 2012, five other OSU-COM students have received this national scholarship for underrepresented minority students.

“It speaks to the legacy we have in producing great talent at our institution. It also speaks to the community we have built at OSU-COM with not only our peers, but upperclassmen as well, who continue to motivate and challenge us to pursue opportunities like this one,” he said.

Alvarado said he became interested in a medical career while pursuing a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at OSU Center for Health Sciences. 

“I got to meet a lot of the faculty and staff that worked with medical students. I built strong connections and friendships that made me feel like I belonged here,” he said. “I deeply resonated with the osteopathic philosophy, and when I got the opportunity to shadow a couple of DOs, I immediately saw the DO difference being put into practice, which motivated me to pursue this career path.”

As a mother, Perez said staying close to home while pursuing her dream of becoming a physician was incredibly important. The strong sense of community, supportive environment and mission of serving the underserved are why she wanted to attend OSU-COM.

“Growing up in an underserved community and later navigating the health care system as a teen mom showed me how essential compassionate, culturally competent care is,” she said. “I want to make a difference for families like mine, ensuring that patients feel heard, respected and valued regardless of their background.”

Being a physician from an underrepresented population, Perez said, gives her the opportunity to bridge the communication gap for patients who often feel invisible or misunderstood.

“When patients can speak to a physician who understands their background and speaks their language, it removes a huge obstacle in health care. It also helps build trust, so patients feel safe seeking care without fear of being treated differently or facing judgment,” she said.

Alvarado said it’s important to him to not only represent his community but also give back and help future physicians find their way.

“Having this opportunity gives me a deep sense of pride for my culture and motivates me to embrace and showcase my experiences. Something that is important to me is improving access to these career paths in the next generation,” he said. “Given my experience as a first-generation college student, I didn’t grow up having conversations about college, I wasn’t exposed to career paths or mentorship into what my options were beyond high school. It’s important to invest in ways to introduce health professions to underrepresented communities early on so that our student enrollment reflects the needs of our communities.”

For Perez, receiving the Sherry R. Arnstein Underrepresented Minority Scholarship was humbling and empowering.

“Being a first-generation Latina student and a parent, I’ve often felt like an outsider, but this scholarship serves as a reminder that my path is valuable and worthy of recognition,” she said. “It motivates me to continue breaking down barriers, not only for myself but for others striving to pursue their dreams in medicine.”