We are proud to announce Valentina Vargas Marin as the 2024 recipient of the Perla S Gil, MD Scholarship.
Professor Dodd Denton, Deputy Director of Students at the Ochsner Clinical School said the scholarship was established to enhance diversity at Ochsner and in the medical profession.
“The scholarship aims to do this by supporting female UQ-Ochsner medical students of Hispanic descent who have traditionally been underrepresented in the medical profession.
“This year’s recipient is Valentina Vargas Marin, a fourth-year UQ-Ochsner medical student,” Professor Denton said.
Valentina was born in Bogotá, Colombia then moved to a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in South Florida, which allowed her to preserve the rich culture of her heritage.
During high school, Valentina witnessed my community's efforts to raise funds and collect donations for those less fortunate overseas, igniting my passion for helping individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in Latin America.
In college, Valentina became involved with MedLife Movement, a non-profit organization partnering with low-income communities in South America to improve access to medicine and education and to provide funds and volunteer support for community development projects.
Additionally, she has volunteered at free clinics, assisting as a translator for Hispanic patients who do not speak English.
Valentina is committed to continuing her efforts to help those in need as she advances in her medical career.
The Perla S. Gil, MD Scholarship is supported by a generous endowed fund established in honor of Dr. Perla S. Gil. Dr. Gil was born in Santiago, Cuba, and grew up in Spain and Peru.
Her father was an ophthalmologist, and she followed his footsteps to a career in medicine.
Dr. Gil trained at The Ochsner Clinic and Mount Zion Hospital in San Francisco before practicing anesthesiology for over 20 years at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California.