I was born and raise in Cuba, but I moved to the United States with my family when I was 15 years old. At that age, I developed a passion for science. Therefore, I decided to pursue a career in this field. I earned my B.S. in Biology from University of Florida. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I because a high school science teacher where I fell in love with the process of educating, mentoring, and inspiring students to achieve their academic goals. I went on to earn my Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Florida International University, with a research focus on Neuro-Immunology and Virology. As part of my doctoral research, I investigated HIV-induced inflammation and viral replication in the Central Nervous System. I joined Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in March 2023 as an Assistant Professor of Medical Education, with the goal of utilizing my passion for science and teaching to prepare students with the right skills for excellence and future success.