Lisett Montano

As an aspiring Physician Assistant, my journey is rooted in a profound commitment to contribute to global healthcare. Growing up in Arizona, I observed disparities on both sides of the border, motivating me to address geographic-based inequalities. Summers in Chihuahua, Mexico, shaped my perspective and fueled my dedication to changing how people are treated. In my undergraduate studies, I advocate for diversity, aiming for inclusivity and acceptance on campus. Love is central to my life and career, expressed through understanding languages and cultures. I aspire to achieve fluency in Portuguese to connect with diverse populations. My overarching goal is to bridge cultural gaps and navigate healthcare complexities globally, fostering connections with individuals across borders. This journey represents an investment in my personal and professional growth, providing the tools to contribute meaningfully to healthcare on an international scale.

• Girls Cross Country, 2017-2020, Running cross-country has allowed me to grow as a leader in many ways. Sophomore year of high school I was elected to be captain of the team. This position allowed me to help others become passionate about what they do. I was also able to organize specific events and establish traditions that will always be a part of the team.
• Varsity track- and- field, 2016-2020, I am part of the after- school team. This team was formed by students who couldn't take the track class because it didn't fit our schedule but still wished to be part of the team. I decided to help the after-school coach by being his "communicator." I stayed in contact with him and he would tell me what exercises he wanted us to do and gave me information about events that I needed to pass on to the after-school team participants.
• JV Girls Soccer Team, 2018-2020, On the JV girls soccer team I was a starter. My job was to play at the beginning of the game and stay on the field the full game. I was also "last man" which means I controlled the defensive line. This position showed me how to communicate quickly and efficiently.

• ASU Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program, June-July 2018, In the summer of 2018, I participated in the Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors program. The core of this program was an 18-week college level math course taught in just six weeks. In addition to the math course, the program included a science portion. We were each assigned a group to work on a "mini-thesis," which we presented to the entire program at the end. My group's mini-thesis was about the effects of OSHA on work injuries throughout time. We had to do in depth research and make data that supported our research.
• Barrett Summer Scholars, summer 2016, During my freshman year I was selected to participate in the Barrett Summer Scholars program. We took classes such as The Human Event and a course focused on our future career goals. I took the health and medicine course, studying about the human body, nutrition, and diagnosing illnesses and the protocols that were necessary to cure those illnesses. We also explored a cadaver lab where I had the experience of touching a kidney, heart, brain, intestines, and a diaphragm.
• Mayo Clinic Research Internship, summer 2019, In the summer of 2019 I was selected to be an intern at Mayo Clinic. The internship lasted the entire summer. My schedule was Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. I got to intern at the research building of immunology. I acquired basic bent top skills like pipetting. I also learned how to use scientific equipment like a centrifuge. I was also able to form a relationship with a very experienced mentor, who I got really close to. Along with experience at the bench and with equipment I also got to experience working with mice for research. At the end of the summer I gave a presentation of what I learned that summer and the entire lab of immunology was their including my Mentor and the chief of immunology.

• Arizona Museum of Natural History, 2017-2019, I volunteer at the museum, the first and second Saturday of the month. My favorite assigned activity is the "exploration station." The exploration station is a large playroom for children full of different activities. My job is to monitor the entire room and make sure everyone is safe and everything is clean. The assignments vary by the volunteer, and my volunteer director always puts me in positions where I have a great deal of social and active responsibility.
• ECS Academy Soccer Coach, 2018-2019, ECS is a soccer academy for children ages 6 to 9. I started as a volunteer for the main coach. I would gather cones and soccer balls and help the children stretch before practice. After about two weeks of volunteering, the main coach asked if I wanted to be the main coach for children ages 6 to 8. After becoming a coach, I prepared drills, scheduled soccer games, and handled all the challenging situations that can arise when working with children in an active setting.
• Banner Desert & Banner Desert Cardons Children's, Summer 2019-summer 2020, In the summer of 2019 I began to volunteer at Banner Desert, both in the pediatric hospital and the regular hospital, because they are connected. I volunteer in the supply chain department. My job is to be a "delivery girl" and deliver supplies all over both of the hospitals. I volunteer on Tuesday from 4 pm- 8pm. Being the delivery girl has helped me familiarize myself with the hospital setting. Having exposure to the hospital every week has reassured me that my future is held inside a hospital.

• Personal Project, 2017-2018, Built a two story dog house with innovating architecture to accommodate the heat in Arizona. I also added in a "bathroom" that included a bathtub, a basket full of shower supplies, and a towel rack.
• Extended Essay, 2019-2020, Research Question: To what extent do live cultures in yogurt reduce the concentration of lactose products over time?
• Currently wokring on my Undergraduate Thesis