USC MPH student Diana Flores awarded first place in cancer research training program in Puerto Rico

Diana Flores decided to study public health to improve health access and outcomes among marginalized communities. She was drawn to USC by its diverse population and location. “I wanted to be surrounded by different perspectives that would shape my view of health and health care. I knew the opportunities here would help me grow by engaging in initiatives across different communities in Los Angeles,” she says. Little did she know that her final year would be spent applying her newly learned skills to a research project in a different city on the other side of the country.

During this past summer, Flores, a Master of Public Health student in the health services and policy concentration, participated in the Cancer Prevention and Control (CAPAC) Research Training program in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During the 10-week internship, she worked on a clinical study investigating Human papillomavirus (HPV) among Hispanic women in Puerto Rico and Texas, examining immunological changes that occur during cervical cancer disease progression. She learned about the opportunity during her first semester at USC in a course on ‘Foundations in Health Education and Promotion’ taught by Daniel Soto, PhD, assistant professor of clinical population and public health sciences.

“Diana has always been eager to take on new challenges,” says Soto. “This internship was a highly competitive process, and she was chosen to participate in a program that aligns with her passion for cancer control research in the Latinx community. She has great potential as a future researcher, and I have been very impressed with her passion and ambition to work with underserved populations.”

A deep dive into cancer research

Flores, a first-generation college student worked under the guidance of Stephanie Dorta-Estremera, PhD, an immunologist at the University of Puerto Rico, whose research focuses on cancer. “The best knowledge I’ve gained has been through new experiences,” says Flores. “The field of immunology was not in my scope of study, so it was a big learning curve. I hadn’t touched a micropipette since freshman year, but I surprised myself in many ways. I learned that I could do things that were uncomfortable and challenging, and it just took a little bit of work.”

The training program offered career development seminars, scientific writing workshops, and networking with scientists and PhD students. It culminated with a poster presentation session where Flores was awarded first place for her project examining the ‘Immune Profiles Associated with HPV-Related Cervical Disease Progression in Hispanic Women.’ Her research set out to better understand what drives cancer growth especially among Puerto Rican women.

“This was my first research project and poster presentation, so receiving this award was a full circle moment, especially because I went into this experience with imposter syndrome. I kept thinking ‘oh gosh — ‘I’ve never done this before and what am I getting myself into?’ In the end, it was a great experience. I am very proud of what I was able to achieve.”

Embracing cross-cultural experiences

“Another highlight of this experience included the ability to travel to another part of the world and fully immerse myself in the culture while conducting research and continuing my education. I am Mexican, and while I am very familiar with Hispanic populations, I had never really been around the Puerto Rican Hispanic community. I was able to recognize the differences that people in the Caribbean face and the unique challenges of being situated on an island that experiences natural disasters. Their infrastructure needs to be repaired and maintained. At the same time, I noticed the supportive culture in academia and how they encouraged students to get involved in research and contribute to publications and conferences fostering a rich research environment—it was all very eye opening.”

A future in academic inquiry

Through this experience, Flores shares that she worked alongside amazing mentors who inspired her and gave her insights and career advice on continuing in academia. “The support I had there and being surrounded by Hispanic researchers that look like me and come from a similar background was motivational and inspirational. Before I left Los Angeles, I was unsure about my next steps, but I came back knowing that the PhD route is what I want to pursue.”

Flores is set to graduate next spring. After, she hopes to enroll in a doctoral degree program in health behavior research or health policy and management. “I am interested in continuing to examine how socioeconomic status, race, geographic location, and existing policies influence health behaviors and outcomes,” she says. “I am also passionate about access to health care, equity, and quality of care, particularly among low-income, Black, and brown communities. Overall, I want to do work that impacts communities of color because historically, they have been failed by our systems repeatedly.” She hopes to empower these populations through the provision of proper tools to succeed.