Erica Cherian

UNC Charlotte

Erica Cherian, a junior at UNC Charlotte, has devoted her time, talent, research activities, and scholarship resources to addressing issues of healthcare access and utilization by Charlotte's most vulnerable citizens. Over the past three years, she has worked at two local clinics serving members of the immigrant community. After interning at one community health clinic assisting as an interpreter and working on program assessment and grant writing, Erica continues to work with the clinic to develop a new app designed to disseminate health related information to Hispanic teens. Additionally, Erica volunteers at a second clinic as an interpreter, assisting with patient flow and processing. Her leadership by example inspires other students to develop the language skills and grounded experience to look beyond abstract numbers and descriptions of healthcare needs, and develop the vision and understanding to serve the needs of the most vulnerable patients.

Philip Dubois
Chancellor
UNC Charlotte

Personal Statement

For as long as I can remember, I have been driven to defend those who could not defend themselves. Frustration gnaws at me when I see injustice being done, or human beings reduced to stereotypes and therefore being treated differently. As an aspiring physician, the disparities that exist in healthcare are of particular concern, and in my classes, I have studied data on the disparities that exist between many groups. However, learning about numbers and statistics is nothing compared to the experience of speaking with real people about the trials and hardships that they have faced in accessing care. Through volunteer experiences with various free clinics in Charlotte, I have been immersed in the issue of healthcare access disparity for the Hispanic population in North Carolina. In collaboration with my peers, I am working to develop an app that will disseminate healthcare information and resources to Hispanic teenagers. While this only addresses a symptom of the larger problem of inequity that resounds throughout the system of healthcare, it does help address the immediate crisis of access. Mitigating and eliminating the systematic inequality is something that I will continue to work on throughout my career.

Erica Cherian
Biology, Psychology: Class of 2018
written 2017

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Erica Cherian, UNC Charlotte Morgan Sweere, University of Central Arkansas Andrew Aboujaoude, University of Central Florida Jaylon Thomas, University of Central Oklahoma Akshayaa Chittibabu, University of Connecticut Marie Spence, University of Denver Nicolette Duong, University of Florida Bobbie Alcanzo, University of Great Falls Eisha Khan, University of Houston-Downtown Alexis Smyser, University of Illinois at Chicago Rudy Amaya, University of La Verne Duane Belanger, University of Maine at Fort Kent Karla Casique, University of Maryland Axel Bayingana, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Sophia Lopresti, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Andrew King, University of Massachusetts Boston Callie Nunez, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Luiza Kinzerska-Martinez, University of Miami Nadine Jawad, University of Michigan Zachary Hayes, University of Michigan - Flint Gemechu Mekonnen, University of Minnesota Madison Bick, University of Missouri - St. Louis Isabel Langlois, University of Montana Shayla McGregor, University of Montana Western Sophie Ramsey, University of Mount Union Jimmy Nguyen, University of Nebraska at Omaha Shannon Bodeau, University of North Carolina Asheville Cristian Ramos, University of North Georgia Karina Judith Ortega, University of North Texas at Dallas Melanie Majeed, University of Northern Iowa Sarah Tomas Morgan, University of Notre Dame Anea Moore, University of Pennsylvania Hashaam Jamil, University of Pittsburgh Wila Matos, University of Rhode Island Edgar Chavarria, University of San Diego Emery Smith, University of South Carolina Isaac Miles, University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) Corinne Tucker, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Richard Lee, University of Utah Rena Newman, University of Wisconsin - Madison Bianca Ruffolo, University of Wisconsin - Parkside Joanna (Jo) Niswonger, University of Wisconsin Colleges Yessenia Santamaria, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
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