The program’s reach is especially evident in Joselle Garcia and Nicole Pineda, two recent bio-medical graduates who earned top honors as co-valedictorians of UOG’s Fañomnåkan (Spring) 2025 class. Their achievement exemplifies the Biology Program’s commitment to academic excellence and its role in helping shape future health care professionals.

A rigorous and rewarding academic journey

The Bio-Medical Track is designed to lay the groundwork for students to meet the challenges of medical school and health care careers through a rigorous curriculum that incorporates both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. The program requires its students to take a broad range of science courses — from human anatomy and physiology to biochemistry to genetics — that include in-depth lectures and immersive labs.

With the shared goal of becoming medical doctors, Garcia and Pineda took full advantage of the program’s offerings to prepare for the demanding path ahead.

“Although the coursework was challenging, it pushed me beyond my limits and taught me discipline,” Pineda said. “UOG’s Biology Program gave me the foundational knowledge I needed to grow in both competence and confidence within the sciences.”

Garcia shared Pineda’s sentiments but also found herself adopting an interdisciplinary approach to building her academic background. Along with the mandatory biology courses, Garcia was drawn to the social sciences and decided to minor in psychology.

“I’ve always been interested in how the human mind works,” Garcia said. “Psychology offers valuable insight into the medical field, contributing to a more holistic approach to patient care.”

The internship advantage

A crucial aspect of the Bio-Medical Track is its emphasis on experiential learning. Through several internship opportunities, Garcia and Pineda gained first-hand experience in applying their classroom knowledge to real-world situations.

Both Garcia and Pineda participated in the Health Opportunities & Medical Exposure (HOME) Program, where they each shadowed a physician and received mentorship for a summer. While Pineda was paired with an ophthalmologist and learned about different eye conditions and treatments, Garcia followed a pediatrician and gained insight into children’s health. Garcia’s experience in the HOME program was what helped solidify her decision to pursue medicine to someday become a physician.

In addition to seeing experts in the field at work, Garcia and Pineda were able to take part in impactful research projects through a variety of other programs.

Pineda spent two months at the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, where she engaged in lung cancer screening research that she went on to present at the UH Cancer Center Symposium. She also expanded the scope of her scientific interests through a year-long internship under the Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Student Research Experience Program. At the UOG Marine Laboratory, Pineda studied a type of green algae, and despite not having a background in marine biology, she gained valuable skills and knowledge on the topic along the way.
Meanwhile, Garcia participated in the Careers in Science & Medicine Summer Internship Program at John Hopkins University (Md.). In what felt like a stroke of fate, the lab she joined focused on pediatric oncology, so she was able to further build on her experience in the HOME Program. It also held a special meaning for her.

“Shadowing a pediatrician showed me the wonders of what it’s like to be one, but being able to do research in oncology was near and dear to my heart,” Garcia said. “My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and had to fly off island for treatment. At the time, I could not be by her side, but conducting research on cancer helped me believe that it was one way I could still be there for her.”
More than just clarifying their post-graduation paths and building their skills as young researchers, the internships gave Garcia and Pineda a way to instill impact and add value to the health care field before even graduating.

Looking to the future

With their undergraduate degrees secured, preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and applying to medical schools are next on Garcia and Pineda’s to-do lists. But before they begin a new chapter in their academic and professional journeys, they leave behind some advice for their fellow Tritons and future biology majors. 

“Find and create a strong support system,” Garcia said. “It’s nice to know that you have people by your side who will support you through whatever phase of life you’re in.” 

Pineda added, “Embrace your journey and invest in yourself. You’re more capable than you realize!” 

As Garcia and Pineda move forward in their careers, they continue to embody the spirit of UOG’s Biology Program and are evidence of what happens when purpose, passion, and perseverance align.