Meet the founders
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Jhaimy Fernandez, MD
Dr. Fernandez is a pioneering force in digital health equity, dedicated to serving underserved communities. As the Digital Health Equity Lead at Harbor-UCLA Department of Family Medicine, she has made significant strides in expanding digital health access throughout Los Angeles County. Dr. Fernandez's initiatives are particularly impactful in educating healthcare professionals about the specific digital health needs of communities of color, thereby nurturing an environment of inclusivity in healthcare. A highlight of her work is the creation and execution of a specialized digital health equity curriculum for underrepresented minority pre-medical students, based on the AAMC's Telehealth Competencies and the HLTH Foundation’s four key pillars of techquity. Dr. Fernandez's expertise and insights have made her a sought-after speaker at local and national events, where she engages with a diverse audience, including pre-health students, academics, physicians, trainees, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders
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Yimdriuska Magan, MD, mph
Dr. Magan is a passionate advocate for digital health equity, dedicated to harnessing technology to improve healthcare access for underserved populations. With a strong foundation in primary care and a Master’s in Public Health, she has focused her career on addressing systemic disparities by designing and implementing technology-driven solutions that bridge the digital divide. Her efforts extend far beyond the clinic, as she actively contributes to shaping health policy and developing community-based strategies that ensure digital tools are both accessible and culturally responsive. In addition to her work with patients and communities, Dr. Magan is deeply committed to mentorship, guiding the next generation of health professionals in the principles of techquity, innovation, and patient-centered care. Through her leadership and advocacy, she underscores the importance of thoughtful technology use as a pathway to advancing healthcare equity and creating lasting, inclusive change.
meet the fellows
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Betty Villantay
Betty is a passionate advocate for digital health equity, dedicated to supporting underserved communities through innovative media and education. As a Media Strategist, she skillfully merges media strategy with health education to amplify equity-focused initiatives. Betty mentors underrepresented pre-medical students, helping them harness social media to become influencers in the health tech industry. Among her notable accomplishments is leading a campaign that built an online community and culminated in in-person workshops. During the pandemic, she collaborated with the music and dance industries in London, UK, to address mental health challenges in less affluent areas of Greater London. Beyond her media expertise, Betty brings a strong background in biomedical engineering with a focus on data science, machine learning, and deep learning. Aspiring to become a physician, she aims to leverage digital platforms to empower communities, drive social change, and cultivate future leaders in health technology.
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Lorena Gonzalez
Lorena is a UCLA graduate with a B.S. in Psychobiology and a dedicated advocate for health equity and community empowerment. At Alma First, she serves as Community Outreach Coordinator and Media Strategist, combining her passion for healthcare with expertise in digital navigation and storytelling. Lorena plays a leading role at community health fairs, where she connects families with essential tools such as laptops, patient portals, and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). She not only distributes resources but also provides hands-on guidance, teaching patients to access telemedicine, manage health records, and integrate digital tools into daily care. As Media Strategist, she develops bilingual educational content and digital campaigns that amplify patient voices and highlight Alma First’s mission. With a background in clinical care, research, and community engagement, Lorena bridges medicine, technology, and culture, championing an inclusive vision of healthcare where no community is left behind.
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Leslie avilez
Leslie is a first-generation pre-medical student from Los Angeles and a proud graduate of UCLA, where she earned her degree in Biology. Her journey is deeply rooted in a commitment to advancing healthcare access for marginalized communities. Currently, she focuses her research on improving the quality of care for underserved populations, emphasizing the intersection of equity and innovation. At Alma First, Leslie serves as Program Manager for the Fellows Program, where she designs and oversees initiatives that provide pre-medical students with exposure to digital health, telemedicine shadowing, and healthcare startup consulting. These experiences not only expand opportunities for underrepresented students but also nurture the next generation of leaders in health technology. Through her work, Leslie fosters a supportive and inclusive environment that empowers students to engage with techquity while preparing for their future roles in medicine. Her ultimate goal is to become a physician dedicated to accessible, patient-centered care.
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Brianna Flores
Brianna is a UCLA graduate with a B.S. in Psychobiology and minors in Brain and Behavioral Health and Evolutionary Medicine. She is dedicated to advancing research in brain and behavioral health, with a particular focus on addressing disparities experienced by Latino and LGBTQ+ communities. At Alma First, Brianna extends her passion for equity into practice by supporting initiatives that improve digital health navigation in underserved communities. Her work involves guiding patients through the use of patient portals, telemedicine platforms, and other digital tools to increase healthcare access and reduce barriers to care. Brianna also contributes to creating educational resources that ensure technology is both culturally relevant and accessible for diverse populations. By bridging her background in neuroscience with her advocacy for digital inclusion, she brings a unique perspective to Alma First’s mission. Her ultimate goal is to pursue a career that combines research, clinical care, and digital health equity.
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Denisse Nepamuceno
Denisse is an alumna of the University of California, Riverside, where she earned a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Ethnic Studies. This dual background reflects her passion for both the life sciences and the humanities, shaping her ability to approach healthcare through an interdisciplinary lens. Her academic and professional experiences have strengthened her skills in research, analysis, and communication while deepening her understanding of health disparities and immigrant rights. At Alma First, Denisse channels these interests into work that promotes equity and expands access to digital health resources for marginalized communities. She is particularly committed to exploring how technology can be used to bridge gaps in healthcare and create culturally responsive solutions. Aspiring to become a physician, Denisse envisions a career at the intersection of medicine, social justice, and innovation, where she can connect underserved communities to the tools needed for healthier, more empowered lives.
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Yesenia Mendez Buenrostro
Yesenia describes her time at Alma First as both inspiring and transformative. Working alongside trailblazing physicians and visionary leaders has given her a front-row seat to the innovative approaches shaping the future of digital health equity. She has been deeply motivated by the team’s commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring that technology serves all communities, not just the privileged few. In this dynamic environment, Yesenia has expanded her skills in digital health navigation, community engagement, and collaborative problem-solving, while also strengthening her passion for equity-driven work. Her role has allowed her to witness firsthand how purpose and innovation intersect, from helping patients access digital resources to contributing to initiatives that amplify underrepresented voices. This experience has reinforced her belief in the power of purpose-driven work and its ability to transform healthcare. Yesenia looks forward to continuing to advance equity through technology and medicine.
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Maria Zesati
Maria was raised in the greater Los Angeles area by hardworking Mexican immigrant parents who instilled in her the value of education and perseverance. Her personal experiences with childhood obesity and witnessing the challenges her family faced with limited healthcare access sparked her interest in medicine and public health. Maria’s first clinical role as a medical scribe in 2020 took place entirely via telemedicine, giving her a unique perspective on how technology can both enhance and limit patient care. These early insights continue to guide her thinking about digital health equity and expanding access for underserved populations. At Alma First, Maria has explored the intersection of medicine and technology, supporting initiatives that connect patients to essential digital tools while keeping care patient-centered and culturally relevant. As an aspiring Latina physician leader, she is committed to fostering collaboration and innovation to ethically bridge gaps in digital health.
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Cinthya Montoya
Cinthya, a first-generation UCLA graduate, is committed to becoming a physician who advances health equity by addressing disparities through community-centered care. Her journey has been shaped by a passion for public health and a deep understanding of how social determinants influence health outcomes in underserved populations. At Alma First, Cinthya champions digital health initiatives that expand inclusivity and accessibility, helping patients and families navigate tools such as patient portals, telemedicine platforms, and digital resources that make care more efficient and culturally relevant. She also contributes to developing educational content and outreach strategies that bridge the gap between technology and community health. By merging public health insights with innovative technological solutions, she works to ensure that digital tools serve as bridges rather than barriers to care. Cinthya aspires to a career in medicine that is rooted in compassion, equity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.