The Summer Health Professions Education Program is a free 6-week summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in health professions. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. Hear from SHPEP Alumni about where they discovered their interest in medical school and their aspirations as they embark on the next chapter of their journeys to save lives.
Congratulations to SHPEP Alumni! We know you will make a positive impact on the community at the UW School of Medicine.
Paulina Luisa Harnisch (she/her/hers)
Biography
My name is Paulina Luisa Harnisch, and I am from River Forest, Illinois, which is a suburb outside of Chicago. I went to the University of Notre Dame for undergrad (Class of 2025 – Go Irish!). I majored in Biological Sciences and Global Affairs.
I aspire to become a physician who advocates and cares for underserved communities. I am the proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant; my mom was born and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and I have a deep love and pride for my Mexican heritage. I feel called to give back to my Hispanic community and work to understand and alleviate healthcare disparities faced by Spanish-speaking and immigrant populations. I am interested in underserved medicine, public health, and global health. I look forward to connecting my patients to resources in their communities and using a holistic approach to healthcare.
In my free time, I love listening to music, exercising, taking dance classes, and spending time with family and friends. I am new to Seattle, and I am excited to do outdoors activities such as hiking and paddle-boarding!
What was a highlight from your time in the SHPEP program?
I participated in the public health pathway of SHPEP at the University of Washington. A highlight during my time in SHPEP was shadowing and learning from public health institutions in Seattle, such as the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Seattle & King County Public Health. I especially loved learning about the impact of policy on healthcare and communities’ roles in promoting the health of their populations outside of a clinical setting.
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine and what medical specialty are you interested in?
I spent a summer living at a refugee shelter on the U.S./Mexico border after my freshman year of college. Hearing of the hardships the refugees faced throughout their journeys was incredibly moving. I saw the humanity of the refugees in the most beautiful and profound ways, and I have been inspired to share their stories. While spending time with refugee populations, I became certain of my calling for medicine: to advocate and care for these underserved populations who have known so much suffering. My first exposure to medicine was through my family – I grew up in a family of physicians. I have always been fascinated by their stories and the impact that they have had on their patients, especially because all my physician family members care for underserved populations. During shadowing experiences throughout college, I have witnessed how health disparities and cultural barriers greatly impact the provision of healthcare. Although I am not completely certain about which specialty I would like to pursue, I loved shadowing primary care physicians that worked with underserved populations, and I am interested in internal medicine, primary care, and family medicine. I am excited to continue to explore different specialties during medical school.
Arianna Flores-Cisneros (she,her,ella)
Biography
Hometown: Sequim, WA
Alma Mater: UW, BA Public Health 2017
Growing up in a rural community where most of my family still resides, I witnessed how healthcare access is often severely limited in these settings. This challenge is even more pronounced for immigrant communities in rural areas. I envision returning to serve such a community at some point in my career, working to address the healthcare disparities I witnessed growing up.
Outside of my academic pursuits, I find balance through cooking, baking, and taking walks outdoors. I also cherish any opportunity to spend time with my family.
What was a highlight from your time in the SHPEP program?
Getting shadowing experience was undoubtedly a highlight of my SHPEP participation. As a first-generation student, securing shadowing opportunities can be particularly challenging without established connections in the medical field. I also deeply valued connecting with students from diverse backgrounds who shared similar lived experiences. These relationships helped me feel less isolated in my journey and motivated me to persevere toward my goals.
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine and what medical specialty are you interested in?
My inspiration to pursue medicine began at a young age, drawn by the profession’s commitment to lifelong learning and its fundamental mission of helping others. I was also motivated by the clear need for greater representation in healthcare. As a Latina, I have witnessed firsthand the barriers the Latino community faces in accessing quality care. I aspire to provide not only language-concordant care but also culturally responsive care that honors patients’ backgrounds and experiences. Currently, I am most drawn to family medicine and pediatrics, specialties that would allow me to serve families across generations.
Mauri Butzke (she/her/hers)
Biography
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Alma Mater: Fort Lewis College – Durango, Colorado
Growing up, I received care through the Alaska IHS system, and I noticed early on how few Native providers there were. In college, I attended a tribal-serving institution where I learned about the deep and often painful history of Indigenous healthcare. Those experiences made me want to be part of the solution. I hope to serve and advocate for my Alaska Native community and help encourage the next generation of Native learners to do the same.
I recharge by spending time outdoors in Alaska. In the summer, I love mountain biking and salmon fishing, and recently I’ve gotten into playing pickleball. Being active outside helps me stay balanced and keeps me connected to the place I call home.
What was a highlight from your time in the SHPEP program?
My favorite memory at SHPEP was talking to the other scholars on our morning walk to class every day. It was fun to walk in a big group and since there were 80 of us, you could talk to someone new each day! We also had such a blast hiking in Mount Rainer National Park!
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine and what medical specialty are you interested in?
My goal is to become a physician who serves rural and underserved communities, particularly Alaska Native populations. The WWAMI program offers the unique opportunity to receive a world-class education while focusing on community-based learning, which is essential for my long-term goal of addressing healthcare disparities in Alaska. SHPEP provided me with so many amazing experiences in my preparation to apply for medical school. I got to shadow a pediatric transplant surgeon and even got to watch an 8-hour kidney transplant that summer! Shadowing opened my eyes to how language barriers can affect patient care, and I learned about translation tools and strategies used to bridge those gaps. I also got the opportunity to do a literature review on the risk of diabetes among Alaska Natives and other Indigenous populations which deepened my understanding of the unique health challenges my communities face. One of the most valuable things I gained from SHPEP was a deeper understanding of health equity and the social factors that impact patient care. This foundation strengthened my application and gave me the confidence to speak about real-world issues during interviews, like access to care, systemic barriers, and how I hope to address them as a future physician.
