TESTIMONIALS

“I never found someone that looked like me that wanted to go down the same path as me while in college. MV3 provided a community of people who could connect with me on a different level. The MV3 Scholars Program would help me to gain the confidence I need to occupy space as a black woman on the pre-med track.”

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- Nakacia Hutson

2021-2023 MV3 Scholar

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"Applying to medical school is a long, arduous process riddled with as much uncertainty and self-doubt as excitement and anticipation. Applying as a black woman only added to these sentiments, as I found it hard to find mentors and role models in science and medicine who look like me. In this regard, the MV3 Foundation’s model really resonated with me. MV3’s multi-faceted model of support through mentorship, academic/career support and leadership development impacts several areas I know I would have benefited from as an applicant. Joining the MV3 Foundation team was invaluable way for me to pay my experiences forward to empower the next generation of black leaders in healthcare and biomedicine."

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- Naeema Hopkins-Kotb

Institutional Lead- Harvard Medical School

“I love the life-long nature of MV3's mission. It's not just about helping students get from Point A to Point B, it's about giving them the skills, knowledge, connections, and confidence to pursue Parts C/D/E/F/etc.. on their own once they pass on from the program. Every student has the potential to make an impact, and MV3 helps them to overcome the barriers that restrict this potential. I joined MV3 because I believe deeply in the idea of students helping students. We are the next generation of healthcare and science leaders in this country, and we have a responsibility to build the future we want to see.”

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- William Schwartzman

MV3 Research Team

"As the first in my family to take on medicine, I had a hard time finding mentors and individuals who have been on this same journey. The MV3 foundation was exactly what I needed, and connected me to people who understood my struggles, and had the resources to help me succeed."

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- Abigail Omobogie

2021-2022 MV3 Scholar

"I am drawn to serve with the MV3 Foundation because throughout my life, I have benefitted from incredible mentorship. As a medical student, I am privy to the lack of diversity across different spaces in Medicine and am motivated to work to ensure that such spaces become more diversified. I firmly believe that change in this space is possible through intentional, strategic mentorship of students with a sincere focus on the individual. Because of this, I am very excited to contribute to the meaningful work that the MV3 Foundation is doing."

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- Best Uchehara

2022-2023 MV3 Professional Development Program Director

“I am excited to collaborate with a team of dedicated individuals who share my passion for equity and social justice, and to learn from their expertise as we work together to address the systemic barriers that prevent underrepresented communities from thriving.”

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- Anika Pruthi

MV3 Administrative Coordinator

I decided to join the team because I see the value in one-on-one mentorship, especially for under represented minorities going into medicine. What seemed different about MV3 was its willingness to adapt and its understanding that one-on-one mentorship is not all that it takes; there are workshop components and discussions with physicians etc. It also is being run by medical/dental/graduate students or newly graduated students and so it is way more in touch with the graduate admissions landscape than some other bigger corporations."

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- Ifeoma Ikedionwu

2021-2023 Institutional Lead, UChicago-Pritzker School of Medicine

"Mentorship for Black students has always been a strong interest of mine. Through my time in undergrad, I learned how critical structured guidance was to advancing academically. Unfortunately, specific guidance for Black students was severely lacking. MV3's mission is a perfect fit into the gap that exists in Black professional and personal mentorship. The focus on interdisciplinary coaching adds a unique perspective that sets MV3 apart from its peers.."

 

- Terrance Mensah

2021-2022 MV3 Professional Development Program Team

"As someone interested in diversifying the field of medicine so that the medical workforce mirrors the patient population, I was thrilled when Ashley reached out to me about joining MV3. Often, what holds students back from pursuing higher education is the lack of resources and mentorship. Resources and mentorship are integral in helping students get to the next level in their endeavors. I am excited to be part of a program that offers students the necessary tools to support them in their next steps."

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- Monifa Sawyerr

MV3 Academic Program Mentor

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"The path to becoming a health science student and eventually health science professional often relies on hidden knowledge. So many times, there are key pieces of information that can be vital to a student’s success that students simply never learn or learn too late. Throughout, my path I often felt as though I had so many questions, with the greatest question of all being am I asking the right questions. Am I on the right path? Additionally as someone interested in dentistry, I often found that many resources were geared towards medicine, leaving me to ask how is the process different and what particular details do I need to know? MV3 is an organization that is creating formal infrastructure to ensure that Black undergraduates have access to this key information."

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- Aisha Oshilaja

MV3 Professional Development Program Team 

“I lacked support during my premedical studies at a predominantly white institution. I frequently struggled with imposter syndrome and lacked mentorship from people that looked like me. I did not have anyone guiding me as I attempted to navigate the long and confusing journey to becoming a physician. 10 years ago, I needed a program like MV3; I joined to provide mentorship and resources for upcoming Black students that are struggling to find their place. I am devoted to using my past experiences and skills to create a supportive community to ensure their success and achieve all of their goals.

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- Kaeli Heidenreich

MV3 Research Team

"I applied to MV3 because it presented me with a wonderful opportunity to receive health mentoring from a current medical student. As a black undergraduate student, it is often difficult to find mentoring programs that are catered to my needs. However, as an MV3 scholar, I feel supported and seen by both the directors of the program and my mentor."

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- Kirsten Williams

2021-2023 MV3 Scholar

I was an MV3 mentor last year, and had a really awesome time speaking with my mentee. It made me feel extremely proud to see him getting the grades he wanted throughout the year, and it was great seeing him grow into his adulthood as a freshman. Black men specifically are underrepresented in medicine so it was nice to be helping another reach his goal.

- Andrew Legall

MV3 Academic Program Mentor

"I chose to join the MV3 Foundation because of immense amount of support they provide for BOTH their scholars and mentors. Unlike other mentorship programs I have been involved with, MV3 has a well thought out and incredibly organized curriculum that is packed with information for mentors to use and cater to their scholars needs. In addition, MV3 has been incredibly receptive to feedback and always willing to adapt in the face of options that will improve the wellbeing and success of their students. I'm looking forward to the future of this program!"

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- Olivia Brumfield

MV3 Northeast Regional Lead, Academic Program

“As the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university, let alone attend medical school, mentorship was vital to my success throughout this journey. Throughout my experiences, however, I had very few people who looked like me and thus who understood my lived experience and my needs in a more nuanced way, and in moments where I did have that, it made a huge difference. I, therefore, joined the MV3 Foundation team because I believe in the goals of this organization and want to be able to facilitate meaningful mentorship relationships for other Black students interested in healthcare and biomedical sciences.”

- Lulla Kiwinda

MV3 Mentor, Academic Program

"I joined the MV3 Foundation to fill the void that I experienced during my undergraduate career. I was constantly seeking out and more often than not failed to find resources for first generation students interested in pursuing medicine, mentors that looked like me who could offer advice and guidance while navigating the incredibly difficult path to medical school, and most importantly a consistency in encouragement and support, that external push to keep going when you start to doubt yourself. As soon as Ashley Kyalwazi, our founder, shared her MV3 vision with me, I saw the extreme potential in this organization. The possibility of being able to offer all the above and more to students in need is why I dedicated any free time I had during my first year in Medical School to helping her launch efforts. I am confident that the MV3 Foundation will significantly impact how undergraduate POCs view, understand, and transverse their path to medicine and I'm so proud to be a part of this phenomenal MV3 team!"

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- Jasmine Moxley

Institutional Lead, Howard University College of Medicine