PRISCILLA VILLALOBOS IXCOTOYAC

Arizona State University

Pvillal2@arizona.edu

Priscilla Villalobos Ixcotoyac is a rising senior at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. She is a double major in Biological Sciences and Global Health while also pursuing a minor in Educational Studies. Priscilla is from Phoenix, AZ– her mother is from Guatemala, Suchitepéquez, and her father is from Sonora, Mexico. While at Barrett, Priscilla has been a TA for several courses such as The Human Event and a Community Service Mentoring course guiding students in developing impactful service projects. She is also a student researcher in the Castro Lab that focuses on Type 2 Diabetes prevention in Latino communities in AZ. She is also a volunteer for the UA Mobile Health Unit and at St. Vincent de Paul’s Clinic serving as a bilingual interpreter/scribe. Throughout her undergraduate experience, she has been involved in organizations such as the Latino Medical Student Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and Medical Directive at ASU. She is a violin instructor to younger students, and she is involved in several musical groups such as mariachi. Priscilla is on the Accelerated MS/BS track, and after she graduates with her MS in Biology, she will apply to medical school to become a pediatrician where she intends to work in lower-income communities in AZ.

⊲ PROJECT

Reducing At-Risk Community Disparities: SARS-CoV-2 Point of Care Vaccination Strategy for Respiratory Illnesses

Under the guidance of Dr. Christina Bergin and her research team, this study is dedicated to exploring the health effects specific to vulnerable populations who lack access to COVID-19 vaccinations. The disease’s severe impact on minority groups in Arizona emphasizes to urgent need to quantify benefits of a pointof-care vaccination strategy for these at-risk patients. The group targeted in this study are patients who were unable to receive COVID-19 vaccinations during their care/treatment at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix. A retrospective chart review will be conducted to assess the vaccination status and health outcomes of these patients one year later. This study will provide crucial guidance for developing strategies that mitigate these existing health inequities.

Christina Bergin

MD, FHM Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine

Cbergin@arizona.edu

Christina Bergin, is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. She is the associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency, as well as the Internal Medicine Clerkship director. Clinically, she works as a hospitalist at Banner –University Medical Center Phoenix, and is a fellow of Hospital Medicine (FHM) with the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Dr. Bergin attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate education, receiving her BA in Anthropology. She received her MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency training at the Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center/Phoenix VA combined residency program (now the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Internal Medicine program). After completing her residency, she served as chief resident for the program and then joined on as a faculty member and academic hospitalist the following year.

Dr. Bergin’s professional interests include medical education, improving physician-patient communication and working to reduce health disparities through advocacy. Outside of work, she loves hiking and camping with her husband, daughters and dog, as well as reading and Peloton cycling.