Alejandra Sataray-Rodriguez didn’t always know she’d become a doctor. But long before she ever put on a white coat, she was already showing up for people in moments of uncertainty.
“Before medicine, I was a daughter, a caregiver, a translator,” she said. “I grew up navigating two cultures — spending summers in a rural town of 70 people in Los Algodones, Sinaloa, and the rest of the year in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I was raised.”
When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, Sataray-Rodriguez found herself translating between doctors and her family, navigating complicated medical conversations that often lacked cultural understanding.
“That early exposure showed me how language barriers, financial hardship, and a lack of cultural humility can complicate even the most basic care,” she reflected. “It made me want to become the kind of physician my family needed — but rarely had.”
Now a third-year medical student at the Â鶹´«Ã½AV School of Medicine, (UNR Med) Sataray-Rodriguez was recently named one of just five recipients nationwide of the — an honor that recognizes her commitment to culturally responsive care and health equity.
But for Sataray-Rodriguez, the recognition is more than just a title.
“Being a first-generation Latina from a working-class background means I carry lived experience into every room,” she noted. “I understand the fear of not being understood — linguistically or culturally — and that shapes my empathy. I show up with humility, with a listening ear and with a commitment to never minimize someone’s story.”
Throughout her journey, she’s held tight to her roots, and hopes others will do the same.
“You don’t have to change who you are to succeed in medicine,” she said. “Representation matters. Compassion, resilience and authenticity can open doors — you just have to trust that.”
For Sataray-Rodriguez, every obstacle she’s faced has shaped the physician she’s becoming.
“Your story isn’t a setback — it’s your superpower,” Sataray-Rodriguez remarked. “We don’t need to code-switch or shrink ourselves to belong. Every challenge we’ve overcome sharpens our ability to lead with heart. If I can make it this far, others can too — and I want to be living proof of that.”
The NHMA award, she says, means everything.
“It’s a tribute to my family, my mentors and to the patients who trusted me when I was still finding my voice,” she said. “Professionally, it’s a reminder that the work we do to serve underrepresented communities is being seen and valued.”
Sataray-Rodriguez often reflects on the people and values that have anchored her, especially in the most difficult moments.
“My family’s love has been my foundation, and my partner’s support has given me steady strength through every high and low,” she said. “My faith has been a quiet but constant guide. There have been times when I felt uncertain, but something always reminded me I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”
Sometimes it was a simple conversation. Other times, an unexpected opportunity or being invited into spaces she never imagined herself in. Even during her first year of medical school, Sataray-Rodriguez found herself in spaces she once thought were out of reach.
“None of this has felt accidental,” she said. “The belief others have had in me fuels my determination — but it’s my faith that reminds me this journey isn’t just about me. It’s about the people I carry with me, and the communities I hope to serve. I wasn’t placed here to walk alone but to speak up for those still waiting to be seen and heard.”
