Jaime Pérez
Class of 2022
Major: Medicine, Health, and Society
Jaime Pérez is a junior majoring in MHS with a concentration in health policies and economies. Pérez grew up in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, a suburb of San Juan. Even though many of his friends from home went to schools in the Northeast, Pérez chose Vanderbilt in order to meet new people and try new things. He was also drawn to the MHS program that explores determinants of health beyond biological factors. Pérez writes for the Hustler, works as a research assistant in a genetic anthropology lab, co-founded Vanderbilt Students for Underserved Pre-Health Scholars (VSUPS), and he participates in Volunteers Around the World (VAW) and the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS).
During his first year, Pérez took LATS-2201: Introduction to Latina/o Studies instructed by Professor Gretchen Selcke, Director of the Latino and Latina Studies Program. Through lectures, readings, and research papers, Pérez learned a lot about the journey of immigrating to the United States, adjusting to different cultures, and the outcomes migration can have. Pérez would often attend Professor Selcke’s office hours, which led them to form a strong mentoring relationship.
When Pérez began to consider his plan for Immersion Vanderbilt, he knew that Professor Selcke would be able to offer guidance. She and Pérez agreed that he would work to educate others about the Latinx experience of living in another country. Pérez had already been volunteering as a translator at Shade Tree Clinic (STC). STC is run by Vanderbilt Medical Center and provides free healthcare to those without insurance, serving many patients from the Latinx community. Professor Selcke was also able to connect Pérez with an internship experience at Conexión Américas, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for the Latinx community in Nashville.
During the internship, Pérez says, “I was impacted by the work the organization does for the Latinx community, and for our own staff, as we tried to help others grow and advance in the United States.” Pérez was involved in everything from working the front desk to preparing course curriculums, compiling data for analysis, and attending events for community outreach. “The vast majority of our clients had moved to the United States seeking a better life,” Pérez explains. “At the same time, many of my co-workers and their family members were also on the same journey.”
For his Immersion project, Pérez is creating a blog on the Latino and Latina Studies Department website. The blog recaps Pérez’s internship experience and combines it with the lessons learned from his classes and volunteer work. Through research and conversations with his co-workers, he also hopes to incorporate information about the services that the STC provides, highlighting important health statistics.
Pérez was able to successfully navigate Immersion thanks to the connections he made with faculty. He also took on a project that is personal to him and reflects his belief about the importance of community. Pérez says, “I hope to give people who have come to the United States in search of a better life a platform and help their voice travel as far as possible. I believe that this project is an opportunity to continue making a difference in the Latinx community, while I also expand my skillset and further develop professionally.”
Pérez eventually plans to pursue his master’s in healthcare administration or attend law school. He encourages other students to be open to everything Vanderbilt has to offer, ask questions, and make connections: “Vanderbilt has opportunities for everyone. Do not be afraid to seek out help from people in the community. I am very appreciative of all the faculty who have helped guide me and have made Vanderbilt such an incredible experience."