If it weren't for the SCORE program, I don't know where I'd be today! There were a lot of misconceptions about Stanford and the SCORE program gave me the opportunity to come experience it for myself. During my month, I learned about Stanford's dedication to diversity and serving complex and medically underserved patients. I was also able to experience the tremendous amount of support from faculty and mentors. The culture of the pediatrics program is one of the most positive I've come across and I am so happy to have had such an amazing and formative experience. 

My journey to Stanford began with the SCORE program. The opportunity to rotate through the Surgery department for one month was one that opened many, many doors. The stipend and housing provided by the program was an astonishing bonus, which allowed me to not only focus on my rotation and working hard, but also made me realize how determined Stanford is to increasing diversity and providing opportunities for people who otherwise would have little to no exposure to this incredible institution. I am very thankful for the SCORE program because I know for a fact that without the program, I would definitely not be pursuing my Surgery training here at Stanford. And if not for anything else, I got the opportunity to meet & know the amazing and infamous duo; Rita and Mijiza!! 

To read more about Dr. Alobuia, see this article "When One Door Closes".

Through my rotation with SCORE, I was fortunate to see Stanford's commitment to caring for all patients with the highest quality of care. I was equally impressed with the collaborative mentality in the healthcare team and the constant teaching. Every one was listened to, respected, and contributed to the team. For these reasons, I am excited to continue my training here at Stanford!

I’m the first person in my family to go into medicine. Since my parents immigrated here from Guatemala, the best lessons they taught me were to work hard and serve others. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do these while earning a BA in history at Brigham Young University and during my time in medical school at Western Michigan University. I’ve grown up appreciating the difference that education and leadership can make in underserved communities. During med school I had the opportunity to participate in policy work in the AMA and state medical societies, research, but the most meaningful work was teaching and mentoring in a health education pipeline program for high school students, and starting a student-run health clinic for migrant children. Opportunities for service, commitment to diversity, and caring for the underserved were always in the forefront of my thoughts when choosing where to apply for residency. Thanks to the SCORE program I realized the best place for me was Stanford. 

The SCORE program was a fantastic opportunity to experience how Stanford promotes its values and mission. During my time there as a visiting student I had the opportunity to meet with so many residents and physicians that made me feel at home. After a month there I knew this was a place that I could become the kind of physician that I want to be. Because of SCORE I know that I’ll be getting the best training at an institution with a diverse patient population that is actively promoting diversity in the medical field. I can’t wait to start my Anesthesia training next year. If you’re considering applying, please do!

I’m Rudolph Davis, better known as Rudy, I am a current fourth-year MD/MPH dual degree student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. I completed the SCORE program in 2017 with the Department of Anesthesia and will be joining the department as a resident in 2019 following my internship at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta!  During the SCORE program I was able to work day to day with many of the best minds in medicine and also get a feel for Palo Alto and the bay area, a part of the country I had never visited before. Without the SCORE program, I am sure I would not have been able to fund my externship experience and I may have missed out on the great month I had in Palo Alto.

I was drawn to Stanford because of the amazing reputation and the many opportunities that exist within such a world-renowned university, but I chose to rank them #1 after working with a group of outstanding faculty members and observing how involved they were in residents development. I knew as a student that had interest such as social determinants of health, healthcare systems and behavioral economics my role in the department would be appreciated and I matched into my dream. 

My month at Stanford de-bunked the myth that there were no underserved patients here. Had I not participated in the SCORE program, I may not have chosen Stanford. My SCORE mentors continue to provide valuable mentorship today, and I look forward to continuing to do the same for other SCORE students as they come through the program.

Hello! My name is Mariame Fofana and I graduated from Meharry Medical College. I aspire to be a servant leader in bridging the gap in healthcare disparities. I grew up in Newark, New Jersey as the sixth child from a total of ten children to Guinean parents who instilled hard work, perseverance, education, and resilience. I completed my primary and secondary education in Newark, New Jersey and fortunately, with the support of teachers, mentors, and leaders in my community, I was able to excel in school and acquire opportunities that enabled me to aspire to become a physician. I received a B.S. in Biochemistry at Seton Hall University in 2013 and prior to starting medical school in 2015, I worked as a lab technician, teaching assistant for Upward Bound and college tutor for the Educational Opportunity Program at Seton Hall University.

While in medical school, I held several leadership positions; Class Executive Vice President, student representative of the Curriculum Committee, Gross Anatomy Chief Lab TA and Basic and Clinic Sciences Tutor. All of which taught me the value to medical education and leadership within the medical community. My experience at Meharry was irreplaceable; it further confirmed my passion towards improving communication within the clinical setting. and increasing access of medical care to those in socioeconomically and medically underserved communities.

I am bilingual, I speak Mandinka and of course, English. I love to travel and learn about different cultures and traditions. My ultimate goal is to be the best person that I can be and continue to be inquisitive about life and what it has to offer.

I have to say the main reason I was able to take the leap of faith and leave Texas was all because of the SCORE program. I felt so welcomed and supported, I couldn’t help but completely falling in love with this program. The SCORE program exposed me to the diversity that makes up the Stanford residency program. I could tell having people from all over the country from all racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds was very important to this program, and convinced me to leave my home and create a new one at Stanford.    

Bio coming soon

I’m so happy that I got to experience the SCORE program. I truly can say that I don’t think I would have ended up at Stanford for my integrated interventional radiology residency without the resources and exposure that SCORE provided me. I also was met with a community of welcoming faces across many specialties at Stanford during my time rotating here. I hope to continue to uphold the values of diversity that SCORE supports throughout my time at Stanford. So far, I’ve found faculty and residents at Stanford to be humble, approachable, brilliant, and creative- the best training environment I could have ever asked for.

I tremendously enjoyed my clinical experience and received amazing mentorship that I still used throughout my residency training and now. Most of all, I continue to be impressed by Stanford Medicine’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. It has been an honor to be a part of the SCORE family and I look forward to welcoming the next SCORE students! 

I am a non-traditional medical student. I obtained my BS in Finance in 2000 and my MBA in

Finance and Management in 2003. I then went on to work for my family business for about 8 years. After a serious wakeboarding accident, I decided to pursue a career in medicine. I completed my pre-requisite coursework at the University of Illinois at Chicago while still working fulltime. I completed my 1st two years of medical school at Indiana University’s Gary campus. My time there solidified my desire to work in urban underserved communities.

During medical school I was very active with the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). I served as the National Treasurer from 2016-2017 and as the National Chairperson of the Board of Directors from 2017-2018. It was at the 2016 SNMA annul conference that I learned about the SCORE program.

I had an amazing experience during my time at Stanford. The SCORE program was truly a life changing experience. This fall I will be beginning my medical career as a General Surgery Intern at Stanford! This would not have been possible without the SCORE program. I would strongly recommend SCORE to anyone interested in training at Stanford!

Through the SCORE Program, I am grateful to have been exposed to Stanford Medicine’s supportive environment and educational experiences. I experienced the diversity of patients served as well as the residents’ genuine desire for collaboration and teamwork. Moreover, as a member of an underrepresented group in medicine, I value Stanford’s commitment to serving diverse communities and its initiatives to diversify the medical workforce.

Coming from a low- income immigrant family with numerous medical ailments, I dreamed of becoming a doctor to take care of my family and larger community. Originally from NYC, I had the amazing opportunity to attend Cornell for undergraduate school and Harvard for medical school. Between my third and fourth year of medical school I took a year off to attend UC Berkeley’s public health program in policy and management working with the California Medical Association (CMA) to analyze how physician diversity can improve health outcomes in patients. 

I was fortunate to be accepted into the SCORE program which really changed my perceptions of Stanford. Given my passion for reducing health care disparities and working with underserved populations, I was concerned Stanford might not be the best place to achieve my goals. After spending time meeting with residents, engaging with faculty with a similar passion and interacting with patients, I quickly realized Stanford has a large underserved population that could use more engaged and dedicated physicians to address their unique needs. Without the SCORE program, I likely would not have chosen Stanford for my internal medicine residency! 

Bio coming soon