AT Still University-SOMA Student Awarded 2025 $15,000 Founders' Scholarship
July 29, 2025
Before medical school, I worked as a medical scribe, witnessing firsthand the challenges patients face in navigating healthcare. My passion for service grew through leadership roles in nonprofits and education, including mentoring underserved youth at YMCA Camp and fostering inclusive communities in residence life at Gonzaga University, where I earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. I later pursued an M.S. in Biomedical Diagnostics at Arizona State University. In medical school, I've taken on leadership roles to advocate for peers and advance osteopathic medicine. As Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Foundation's Director of Fundraising, I help secure scholarships for osteopathic students. This year, as SOMA's Director of OPP and Wellness, I'll work to advance discussion of Osteopathic principles. I've also served as a leader of multiple student groups and been a mentor to high school STEM students through Aspen Institute's Our Future Is Science program.
My clinical and research experiences drive my commitment to healthcare equity. At El Rio Community Health Center, I care for patients with limited access to medical care, learning to bridge gaps in trust and understanding. Presenting my research on trauma informed care, osteopathic hypertension management, and the Latina physician shortage has allowed me to contribute to national conversations on systemic disparities. Beyond the clinic, I remain dedicated to community service, volunteering with Project C.U.R.E., Ben's Bells, the Nutrition and Health Awareness Program, and street medicine outreach.
Enjoy a summary of our interview with Alyssa below:
Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Alyssa Arellano is a passionate medical student committed to practicing family medicine with a focus on women's health and preventive care. Her journey into medicine began at a young age, shaped by her grandmother's health challenges and the compassionate care her family received. That early experience sparked a lifelong drive to blend knowledge with empathy-and to treat patients as whole people.
Alyssa was drawn to osteopathic medicine for its holistic philosophy and hands-on approach to care. Inspired by a mentor who embodied the DO values she now holds dear, Alyssa looks forward to using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as part of a well-rounded care model that supports both the body and the person behind it.
Outside of her studies, Alyssa finds joy in sewing, crocheting, and creating handmade gifts-often while listening to audiobooks. It's a creative outlet that helps her recharge while staying grounded. She credits her family for instilling resilience and compassion, and her mentors for showing her what it means to lead with both skill and heart.
As a future physician, Alyssa is excited by the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients, advocate for health equity, and be part of a team that is constantly learning and evolving. She hopes to use her voice to help change healthcare systems for the better.
We're proud to recognize Alyssa Arellano as a TOMF Founders' Scholarship recipient and celebrate her dedication to medicine, community, and compassionate care.