Melissa Venegas

UCLA, Anderson School of Management

“Triple Bruin bridging medicine and business to mentor underrepresented students and address health disparities in vulnerable communities.”

Hometown: South San Diego, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m a dual citizen (Mexico and U.S.)

Undergraduate School and Major:

UCLA, Biology B.S.

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Medical Scribe at San Ysidro Health

UCLA Anderson is founded on the Three Pillars: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Which pillar resonates most with you and why? “Share Success” resonates most with me. As a first-generation Latina, my journey has been shaped by mentors who opened doors I didn’t even know existed. I want to pay that forward by amplifying opportunities for others and uplifting underrepresented students in higher education.

What makes Los Angeles such a great place to earn an MBA? Growing up in San Diego and now a triple Bruin, I have seen how UCLA is deeply connected to the surrounding communities. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, Los Angeles is a great place to learn about leadership, business, and community impact. Earning medical and business degrees here enables me to draw from its culture while staying rooted in values that have shaped who I am.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of UCLA Anderson’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I was drawn to Anderson’s emphasis on collaboration and networking across industries. The chance to learn not only from healthcare leaders but also from peers in tech, entertainment, and finance excites me because it pushes me to approach problems from different perspectives. For me, it’s exciting to sit in a classroom where a medical student, a film producer, and an accountant can solve the same case together.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at UCLA Anderson? I am most excited to explore the Healthcare Business Association. I hope it can be a space where I can merge my passion for medicine with business leadership, collaborate with peers across industries, and prepare to drive meaningful change in healthcare delivery.

What is your unique quality that will enable you to make a big contribution to the Class of 2027? I am proud to be the eldest daughter of three, raised by Mexican immigrant parents in a community near the U.S.-Mexico border. My family’s challenging experiences navigating the U.S. health care system have inspired me to advocate for and serve vulnerable communities as an aspiring pediatrician. I hope to bring this perspective to Anderson, contributing thoughtfully and collaboratively to the community.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My proudest accomplishment has been representing my predominantly Latino and Spanish-speaking community in spaces where they are often underrepresented. As a medical student, the patients I meet frequently remind me of my own neighbors, friends, and family. Serving them and advocating for their needs has been deeply meaningful, and I hope to continue using my privilege and opportunities to uplift and support vulnerable communities throughout my career.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? I hope to become a physician advocate who improves access and equity in children’s healthcare. Ultimately, I hope to step into a hospital administration role, leading at the intersection of medicine, management, and policy to ensure every patient has the opportunity to thrive.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.