UCSF Medical Student Panel
Gabriela Salcedo, MS3
Robert Quiroz, MS1
Giovanni Pantoja, MS1
Gabby Montenegro, MS1
Katia Lopez Sicairos, MS1
Saturday, February 21, 2026
10am-11:30am PST
Click on the YouTube link below to view this webinar. Once you have viewed the presentation, you can log back in and take the Quiz for this event. A score of 70% or above will earn you a Certificate for 2 hours of Medical Mentorship.
Workshop Description:
If you are serious about UCSF, you deserve more than rumors, Reddit takes, and recycled advice from people who have no clue how admissions actually works. This session brings you straight to the source: UCSF medical students sharing the real story behind their journeys, from community college and university classrooms to clinical exposure, research, service, letters, interviews, and the mindset it took to keep going when life got complicated. They will unpack how they chose experiences that matched their values, found mentors, balanced grades with real-world responsibilities, and prepared for interviews without losing their voice. They will share specific do’s and don’ts for building a balanced, believable application over time. You will hear what surprised them about the process, what they would do differently, and what mattered most when decisions were made. Expect candid talk about common myths, what UCSF values, and how students built impact without resources. You will leave with concrete, actionable next steps for Year 1, Year 2, and post-bacc planning. Bring your questions; we will make time for a live Q&A.
About the Speakers:
Gabriela Salcedo was raised in Southern California in the Inland Empire. She earned her degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Irvine and is a third year medical student interested Family Medicine.
Robert Quiroz is from Downey, CA. He attended UC Irvine, where he majored in Biological Sciences with a minor in Medical Humanities. He is interested in surgery, particularly at the intersection of urban underserved care and global health.
Giovanni Pantoja is a UCSF medical student in the PRIME-US program with interests in surgery and psychiatry. He is from Inglewood, CA, and his upbringing in an underserved urban community drives his commitment to building a healthcare system that is equitable, culturally responsive, and rooted in service.
Gabby Montenegro is from Berkeley, California. She attended Macalester College as a QuestBridge National College Match scholar, where she majored in biology with a biochemistry emphasis. She is interested in cardiology, surgery, and nephrology.
Katia Lopez Sicairos was born and raised in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico and immigrated to San Diego, California at age 15. Her family and she experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the U.S. healthcare system with limited English proficiency and no health insurance. These early experiences shaped her commitment to pursuing a career in medicine centered on health equity and culturally sensitive care. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychobiology from UCLA and is currently a first-year medical student in the PRIME-US program. Her specialty interests include pediatrics, cardiology, and nephrology.
View for Free:
What:From Pre-Med to UCSF Medical Student: Myths, Mindset, Must-Dos, Real Journeys, and Real Advice
When: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10 AM (Pacific Standard Time)
YouTube link:
