Pulso Scholars connect with health professionals

For Carolina students interested in health professions, the Pulso Scholars program is an opportunity to learn directly from professionals about their potential careers. Sponsored by the Carolina Latinx Center, the program promotes academic and professional success among all Tar Heels.

For Nathan Vara, the program’s coordinator, the connections formed between students, faculty, professors and health care providers are invaluable. “I love meeting new people,” the sophomore said. “In my role, I’m learning about people’s career trajectory, and what advice they can give to others. The program’s all about gaining knowledge, hearing individuals’ stories and sharing so others can get whatever they need for their journey.”

Scholars participate in professional development workshops and prepare to apply to professional schools or health-related programs. Shadowing and networking opportunities are also a big part of the program.

Erika Munguia ’24, a former volunteer student coordinator, notes that the program’s mentorship component helps students discover new opportunities, aspects of health care careers and resources.

“The program connects you with someone who’s been through it,” said Munguia. “I learned so many things about various health professions and gained an understanding of what you need to do if you are predental, premed or prenursing.”

Vara agrees, noting the program’s resources might be what a student needs to find their passion or change career paths. “All it takes is one connection and one person. You might connect with one doctor, nurse or dentist that just takes you off to a whole other trajectory,” he said. “And then who knows? Maybe students come back in the future to be on the other side of the mentor-mentee relationship.”

Both Vara and Munguia have changed their career aspirations thanks to the program. Vara started off as a prenursing major but has switched to a human development and family science major, with a newfound passion for helping those pursuing higher education.

Munguia, a biology major, initially wanted to become a physician assistant but now hopes to attend medical school and work in pediatrics. She is taking a gap year to prepare for medical school applications and credits Pulso Scholars for insight on admissions requirements and continuing education in health care.

The program is expanding to provide events for different health care majors and has started to host sessions with the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the UNC School of Nursing. Vara frequently sends out volunteering and internship opportunities to students and plans to set up shadowing opportunities for more specific health care focuses, like psychiatry.

He is also working with the UNC School of Medicine and the Latino Medical Students Association to provide additional mentor-mentee opportunities for premed students.

While Pulso Scholars is geared to students, faculty involved as mentors stress the importance of such a program.

“The ability for the students to develop a mentor-mentee relationship — that’s the life of this program,” said Dr. Ron Strauss, Pulso Scholars mentor and the Adams Distinguished Professor at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. “It makes such a difference when they can observe both clinical environments and learn research approaches. I get to see and help guide inquiring minds who are the future of health care and research.”