Dennis Menjivar BS’23

I am a second-year medical student at the University of Utah and I have a bachelor’s degree from the U in kinesiology. Growing up, it felt like becoming a doctor was almost something gate-kept. But I also knew it was what I wanted to do. I was stubborn, with a firm belief that I would get into medical school no matter what. I started to pursue concurrent enrollment and technical classes in high school such as medical assisting. I recall being told by a counselor that I had to set my sights lower, and I encountered a similar attitude whenever I tried to push my boundaries. I had to learn to not let myself be put in a box. My parents and high school teachers were very encouraging, telling me to challenge myself and have faith in my abilities.

As a first-generation college student, I had to pave the path for myself. My dream was to go to the U, and I was always looking for opportunities to do it. When I learned that university employees get 50 percent off tuition, it clicked. I qualified for a federal Pell Grant in my first year, but the rest was financed by me. I worked full time as a medical assistant throughout college, and I was able to graduate without loans.

I’m from West Valley City, and ever since I learned that the U is building a hospital and medical campus in West Valley, I’ve dreamed of practicing medicine there so that I can give back. I think you don’t really go into health care without feeling a sense of responsibility to your community. I’m bilingual, so I’d be able to talk to many patients in their language and understand some of the cultural nuances. In my community, there’s a culture of working hard and putting health off to the side, and that can lead to chronic conditions. I want to encourage residents to obtain screening tests and take other preventive measures. If we’re able to address certain issues right away, we can make a big impact.

With a $75 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, U of U Health broke ground on the University of Utah Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital in West Valley in June.