Whether helping people facing cancer as a part-time patient care assistant (PCA) at Mayo Clinic, tackling a demanding course at the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) or preparing applications for graduate school, fourth-year student Sarai Sanchez-Gonzalez is turning her sights toward a career of empathetic healing.

Frequent emergency room visits for asthma as a child introduced Sanchez-Gonzalez to dedicated healthcare professionals, sparking an early interest in human connection and medicine. Today, as a health sciences major in UMR’s Center for Learning Innovation, she is channeling that passion to motivate her on her way to becoming an occupational therapist.

Finding her purpose: “In high school, I was drawn to psychology and then learned about physical and occupational therapy. I found the muscle and mind connection so interesting — trying to help people restore that link. Growing up going to the ER jumpstarted everything and made me reflect on how I wanted to help others.”

Hands-on experience: “As a PCA at Mayo, I get to work with people from all over the world who might not speak my language. You learn to read subtle cues to understand what they need. Helping a patient walk with physical therapy, seeing how much a shower means to them or celebrating with them when they get a discharge date is deeply fulfilling. It shows me the incredible things care teams can accomplish.”

Bridging coursework and care: “Taking Medical Sociology emphasized the importance of individualized care. It taught me to value patients as individuals, never treating them like numbers, and approaching every interaction with empathy and patience.”

Scholarships include: UMR Mayo Clinic Invest in Success Scholarship and Chartwells UMR Scholarship

Investing in her future: As the child of immigrant parents who instilled in her the value of education, Sanchez-Gonzalez deeply appreciates the scholarship support that has made a meaningful difference in her life. “Knowing that donors have invested in my education pushes me to keep going. I always think, ‘I’m here because people have made that possible.’ It reassures me and my family that people believe in my future.”

Looking ahead: Sanchez-Gonzalez spent her summer applying to occupational therapy graduate programs and volunteering at the Como Zoo youth camp, eager to gain more skills that will help her connect with even the youngest patients.