Who we support

Silvia Ramos

Silvia Ramos knew she wanted to become a doctor after a life-threatening attack of appendicitis. “To me, being a surgeon meant solving people’s health problems and finally providing them with answers to their unending questions,” Sylvia said—the kinds of questions that emerged from her experience in a hospital waiting room when she was just 4 years old.

Hospital staff determined that her abdominal pain did not justify treating her immediately and as Silvia and her parents waited, Silvia’s appendix burst. In the desperate surgery that followed, severe complications compelled doctors to remove one of Silvia’s ovaries and part of the other. Yet Silvia’s parents, who did not speak English, were not told of the radical turn that the surgery took.

“As I grew older and began to understand what had happened, I developed a deep interest in surgery,” Silvia said. “I began questioning the language barriers that contributed to my parents’ confusion, the (shortage) of surgeons, and the systemic problems in health care that led to my experience. Slowly, I realized I wanted to be part of the Latina surgeon community, advocating for patients who face language barriers, ensuring they receive the same care and attention as others.”

Now 19, Silvia credits her close-knit, multi-generational family to helping her overcome her traumatic experience. Two strong, supportive parents and a high-minded grandmother became her role models. “My childhood was filled with big family holidays, amazing weekends, and not one ordinary boring day,” she said. A San Francisco native, Silvia enrolled at Rise University Preparatory high school, a private, faith-based academy started in 2017 to offer a college prep education to disadvantaged students.

At Rise Prep, Silvia thrived in science and history classes. She worked on the school yearbook, did volunteer work and played soccer. She also participated in activities sponsored by College Track, which partners with the Heffernan Foundation to find scholarship candidates.

Through College Track, Silvia applied to ENvision, a program at the University of California, Berkeley, designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. She eventually attended ENvision’s Medicine and Health Care Youth Leadership Forum. She learned basic emergency medicine and participated in medical triage simulations. She heard from multiple surgeons about their experiences and even observed heart surgery. “I had always dreamed of becoming a surgeon, but the hands-on experience at Envision solidified my commitment to this career,” she said.

But the high cost of college was a daunting barrier. As a first-generation, low-income student, Silvia had prepared herself to juggle multiple jobs. Silvia credits her “amazing college counselor,” Aldo Ramirez, with introducing her to the Heffernan Foundation. The $60,000 scholarship has already made an immense difference, she said. After a semester at San Francisco State University in the fall, Silvia transferred to the University of San Francisco in the spring. “The scholarship has empowered me to dedicate myself fully to my studies, helping me move one step closer to a future where I can give back to my community and make a meaningful impact.”