Karen Lenero-Perez
BSc (Life Sciences) in Health Sciences
Connecting with students both within and outside of 天美mv天美, Karen Lenero-Perez brings her expansive experiences with her to the healthcare community.
鈥淚 was excited by the Bachelor of Science in the Faculty of Health Sciences because of the many opportunities it offers, especially in research and volunteer work,鈥� Karen Lenero-Perez explains when asked what drew her to the program. 鈥淲hat truly drew me in was the opportunity to explore topics from the molecular level all the way to a holistic perspective within one program; it deepened my curiosity and appreciation for the field, and the chance to make meaningful relationships with my academic peers.鈥�
Lenero-Perez took the chance to get involved every chance she could at FHS. Serving in the Health Sciences Undergraduate Student Union, the FHS Peer Mentorship group, and the 天美mv天美 Pre-Med Society all helped her represent fellow students while building connections to peers and faculty. In these groups, she creates spaces for connection and contributes to a strong sense of community that give other students the chance to feel mentored and confident. On top of these volunteer groups, she also helped FHS university lecturer Mark Lechner鈥檚 HSCI 324 class as a course coach, assisting students in the course with their material and centering relationships in an academic environment.
鈥淚鈥檝e loved being able to represent fellow students while building meaningful relationships with peers and faculty, especially supporting first-year students as they transition into university life and find their place within the faculty,鈥� she says. 鈥淐reating spaces for connection and contributing to a strong sense of community has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my experience.鈥� Academically, she also works in research with FHS professor Pablo Nepomnaschy鈥檚 Child and Human Development Lab contributed to data translation in Spanish, and wet lab work. Lenero-Perez even did an independent directed study with FHS university lecturer Mark Lechner, where she presented her project, Balancing Immunity: A Study-Driven Analysis of Genetic Disorders, Infectious Disease Resistance, and Emerging Therapies.
Recently, Lenero-Perez had the privilege of being selected for the Erasmus+ scholarship, which allowed her to study abroad in Amsterdam at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. There, she pursued a minor in medicine focused on cancer, immunology, and personalized therapies at their UMC hospital. The study-abroad experience pushed her to grow in ways she did not anticipate - expanding her worldview and informing thekind of healthcare professional she wants to be - and reinforced her passion for working in diverse communities and advocating for inclusive care.
鈥淓xperiencing healthcare and education through a different cultural lens broadened my understanding of what equitable and patient-centered care can look like across diverse communities,鈥� she explains. 鈥淐onnecting with students from around the world, each with their own perspectives and experiences, reminded me of the importance of empathy, cultural awareness, and collaboration in healthcare.鈥�
Lenero-Perez aspires to work as a family physician, with Medical School as her next step following graduation. For her, the Faculty鈥檚 strong commitment to equitable, community-based primary health care, along with its emphasis on Indigenous knowledge and diverse cultural perspective values have been indispensable to her education journey. For students curious what they should take away, she advises staying true to yourself and to not be afraid to take the first step, even when it feels a little outside your comfort zone.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also important to be kind to yourself and avoid comparing your journey to others; everyone in this Faculty is finding their own path, and no two experiences look the same. When you embrace your own growth and trust your process, you not only find more fulfillment, but you also get to fully appreciate the supportive, diverse, and inspiring community that makes this program so special.鈥�