Minority House Staff Committee

I was born and raised in Queens, New York to two immigrant parents, and my experience as a first-generation woman of color has shaped my approach to medicine. I studied Sociocultural Anthropology as an undergraduate student at Columbia University and developed an interest in understanding the extent to which a person’s environment determines their health and wellbeing. I then joined the Icahn School of Medicine as part of their Humanities and Medicine (HuMed) Program, where I was involved in the school’s Racism and Bias Initiative. As an internal medicine resident at Cornell, I have truly enjoyed serving the NYC community. I hope to pursue a career in gastroenterology, and am interested in colorectal cancer presentation, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease in minority and immigrant populations. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and exploring the city’s eclectic food scene and outdoor spaces.

Hi, I’m Lindsay! I grew up in New Jersey and went to Johns Hopkins University for undergrad where I studied Neuroscience. I then completed a masters in Physiology at Georgetown University, then stayed in D.C. for medical school at George Washington University. I was so excited to continue my medical training close to home in New York City, and plan to pursue a fellowship in Gastroenterology. I fell in love with Cornell for the incredible residents and faculty, its unmatched clinical opportunities, the diverse and unique patient population, and the commitment to diversity and inclusion. I have enjoyed the numerous mentoring opportunities for minorities within the greater NYP network – from high school and medical students to interns, and the mentorship cascade which facilitates connections with senior residents to fellows and attendings. The inter-departmental diversity open house was certainly a highlight of my interview season, and now as a resident has become one of my favorite events where I can meet applicants and help with minority recruitment. I’m looking forward to meeting you and sharing my experiences working at Cornell and living in this fantastic city!

Hi! I went to college at University of Florida in Gainesville, where I studied microbiology. I went on to study medicine at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota, Colombia where my family is from. After medical school, I came to New York City and worked for two years as a research associate at the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. During this time I had the privilege to meet and work with an excellent and diverse group of people at Weill Cornell Medicine. I was impressed by this program’s investment in fostering programs to support and promote diversity and inclusion at all levels of training. When I applied for residency, I knew I wanted to stay at NYP-Cornell and be part of this welcoming and open environment. As a resident, I have the opportunity to work with an extremely diverse patient population on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. My experience here has been wonderful time of growth and learning!

Hi! My name is Fabian Vargas and I am a second year Internal Medicine Resident. Prior to joining Cornell, I studied Neuroscience at the University of Michigan and completed medical school at Brown. I am very passionate about diversity and inclusion, minority recruitment, and research in healthcare disparities. When looking for a residency program I looked for a place that also valued diversity and fostered programs to increase both recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in medicine. As part of the Minority House Staff Committee I have had the opportunity to participate in many events, from the mentoring cascade, to high school outreach events and community service. I have truly found a home here at Cornell. I have the privilege of working with a diverse and supportive group of faculty and residents who share my passion and serve as both role models and mentors. Most importantly, I have the opportunity to care for a diverse patient population in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. I could not be happier with my decision to have come to Cornell and look forward to meeting you soon!