Hey, y’all!

My name is Gisel; I am the host of You Are Med.

I am a New York City native (raised in the Grant Housing Projects in Harlem), Afro-Dominicana, story collecting, & community building 4th-year med student. I am the proud daughter of Dominican immigrants and an even prouder first-gen graduate.

My journey to medical school was not easy nor straightforward. On this journey, I noticed that sh*t reliably hit the fan and life continued whether or not I had to study for the MCATs or Step, was having an imposter syndrome flare, or needed to process the loss of a patient.

Through it all, the main constant was my village - (the real MVPs) - the ones who watched me fight, rallied behind me when I failed, and rooted for me when I decided to get back up again. My village helped (and continues to help) me develop my internal fire, cultivate my external voice, and empower me to confront trials with tact and poise. I would not be here without them.

If there is anything I’ve learned throughout this journey is that once you kick in a door, you must help someone else through. That’s why I am here.

I created You Are Med with the hopes that it serves as a rich archive of voices that features our stories for the times when URMs need a little push on their own journey.

Welcome to our village.