ATSU-SOMA student driven by desire to bring healthcare to underserved communities
Posted: July 22, 2024
When it came to choosing a medical school, Mario Jose Bermudez Barrera Jr., OMS II, found everything he was looking for in A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA).
“I chose ATSU-SOMA because I believe the mission statement aligns well with my worldview and I want to pursue a career in serving the underserved,” Barrera Jr. said.
“I hope to enter the field of medicine as a competent physician and serve underserved communities. ATSU-SOMA has helped me in that regard by providing me resources to study in preparation for board examinations and connecting me to several volunteering opportunities.”
Originally from Phoenix, Barrera Jr., who has a bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in pre-med, has become an actively involved student at ATSU-SOMA. He is president of Anatomy Club, vice president of Internal Medicine Club, and president and founder of History of Medicine Club.
“I enjoy the experience and knowledge that comes with the dissection experience in the Anatomy Club and I have always found a passion in history that I am able to pursue through the History of Medicine Club,” Barrera Jr. said. “The Internal Medicine Club has given me opportunities to pursue volunteering and meet with various physicians in the field of internal medicine to gain real world insight.”
Barrera Jr. also serves as a student ambassador, having been inspired by his personal experiences with ATSU-SOMA student ambassadors.
“I do not have any family in higher education, let alone medical school, so getting my hundreds of questions answered was vital to my success in getting accepted and excelling in medical school,” he said. “I enjoy being able to pass that experience onto other incoming students and alleviate their anxiety and worries about what medical school is like.
“I enjoy the camaraderie among my classmates the most as an ATSU student. Everyone in our class is open to sharing resources, tactics, and generally we all want to see each other succeed. This extends into our personal lives, as well, because we are a tight community we can invite each other to all sorts of fun events.”