Vicki Mercado is a 5th year MD/PhD candidate whose interests lie at the interface of immunology, host-microbe interactions, pediatric clinical care, and minority health with a focus on health equity and disparities. As the first in her family to pursue medicine or science, she is passionate about increasing representation of underrepresented and first-generation scholars in these fields. Vicki's long-term career goal is to be in a position where she can fulfill her passions of caring for and empowering patients, leading research with potential to improve patients' lives and mentoring underrepresented students while advocating for minority health and advancement.