Hayley Estrella is a first-generation medical student at Drexel University. During her time with the Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) she returned to her hometown – NYC – to work with the team at New York University on community-focused clinical research projects.
Winn Awards: Can you tell me a little about your background and how you knew you wanted to go into medicine?
Hayley: It’s kind of a long story. It started when I was around four. My grandmother jokingly said, looking at a school picture, “that’s our future doctor.” That joke stuck with me for years. As I started school, I found that I enjoyed math and science. I was into literature and writing, but I also kept being drawn to sciences and health.
I went to Syracuse University for undergrad as a pre-med student, and while I excelled in some learning environments, I also encountered academic challenges that prompted me to reflect on whether medicine was truly the right path for me. As a first-generation college student, I took a step back to evaluate my goals and ensure they aligned with my own aspirations. That period marked my first real experience with imposter syndrome and ultimately strengthened my self-awareness and resilience. I made the deliberate decision to complete my biology degree and temporarily step away from the pre-med track while I refined my goals.
After graduation, I began working at Memorial Sloan Kettering as a clinical research coordinator. Being immersed in a clinical environment and surrounded by physicians and peers on similar paths reaffirmed my commitment to medicine. While working full-time, I applied to a post-baccalaureate program at Fordham University, retaking challenging courses and completing additional coursework to strengthen my medical school preparation.
After a couple of years at Sloan Kettering, I worked at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Endocrinology and Infectious Disease while continuing my postbac courses. I applied to medical school but didn’t get in during that application cycle, so I decided to apply to Drexel’s DPMS master’s program which is designed for students impacted by health care disparities, socioeconomic and/or educational barriers. This program waslinked to medical school admission and I ultimately matriculated.
Winn Awards: First-generation college students can face so many challenges and doubts.
Hayley: Yes. At first, I had ideas that maybe medicine wasn’t for me, and hearing doubts from others confirmed that. But it taught me to look within myself and not let the opinions of others dictate my path. Over the last few years, I’ve come to see the long journey and wealth of experiences as a strength rather than a weakness.
Winn Awards: And now, you’re in a great place.
Hayley: Exactly. It’s been a long journey with many experiences, and I’m genuinely grateful for all of them. I see them as strengths, and programs like Winn CIPP reinforce that perspective.
Winn Awards: How did you become interested in the Winn CIPP program?
Hayley: I first learned about the program through an email from Bernadette Campoli, the Program Director for the Office of Community Health and Inclusive Excellence at Drexel University College of Medicine. She regularly shares opportunities with students, and once I read about Winn CIPP and its focus on clinical research and community engagement, I immediately felt that it aligned with my interests. It also came at the perfect time as I was planning my summer.
Did you feel the program reflected your goals and values?
Hayley:
Absolutely. The clinical trials component was very important to me. I’ve worked as a research coordinator since I graduated from undergrad and wondered if I could ever be a PI in the future. The program showed me that it could be possible. As a first-generation student from the Bronx, I’ve encountered obstacles and preconceived ideas about what success can look like. The community engagement aspect was also central to my experience, particularly because I grew up participating in health fairs with my mom, who is a caseworker. Now, I’m involved with the Latino Medical Student Association at DUCOM, helping host health fairs in Philadelphia and West Reading to serve the community. The program reinforced my commitment to giving back and engaging meaningfully with the communities I hope to serve.
Winn Awards: What are your goals in community engagement?
Hayley: I want medicine to be more accessible. I want patients to feel comfortable and empowered to be active participants in their health care, to feel like they have a say. It’s challenging to have one approach to patient care when there are so many different cultures, languages, beliefs and individual needs. All patients should receive the same quality of care, regardless of these differences. Community engagement also provides a personal understanding of the actual needs of the community and patients, rather than making assumptions about what those needs are.
Winn Awards: Can you share your experience in the Winn CIPP program itself?
Hayley: I was grateful to be placed back in New York, near my family. We worked on two projects. One was a continuation of last year’s cohort survey assessing community health workers’ roles in recruitment and retention for clinical trials. We conducted qualitative interviews with PIs and community health workers to identify barriers, financial implications, and retention challenges. The goal was to see if more PIs could incorporate community health workers on their teams, potentially improving outcomes and patient participation.
The second project was with Dr. Gabrielle Gold-von Simson on creating a survey for a developing program called REDI-STEPP. This is a program aimed for community college students in Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn. The ten-week program introduces students to clinical research and translational research through didactic learning and hands-on work at an FQHC. We helped create survey tools to assess student demographics, motivations, research experience, and career outcomes, essentially the reach and effectiveness of the program. The aim was to inspire students to pursue clinical research careers and assess barriers to entry.
Winn Awards: How was working with your mentors and other scholars?
Hayley: Amazing. Dr. Gold-von Simson was always accessible and supportive. We met weekly and she provided guidance even beyond the program. I also engaged with CDA mentors, like Michelle Lightfoot an OBGYN at NYU, learning about her journey to medicine, clinical trials, and methods for working on publications and research processes. The program also provided exposure to many faculty and mentorship meetings, which was invaluable. In these meetings a wide range of specialties were represented, including pediatrics, hematology/oncology, neurology, cardiology, GI, infectious disease and pulmonary-critical care. Learning about different career paths and the different stages in their career reminded me that there are many ways to practice as a physician.
Winn Awards: Do you feel more confident after participating in Winn CIPP?
Hayley: 100%. Seeing the number of applicants compared to those selected made me feel honored and supported. Every week reinforced that people believed in me and wanted to see me succeed. The program provided me with mentorship, guidance, and connections. It also broadened my understanding of the many roles physicians can have in medicine including clinical work, research, education, administration etc. It made me feel confident and excited about the path ahead.
Winn Awards: What stands out most about your experience with Winn CIPP?
Hayley: The mentorship, emphasis on community engagement, and exposure to research possibilities. The program showed me that there are many ways to contribute in medicine, that my background and experiences are strengths, and that with guidance and support, I can continue to succeed in this journey. It also reinforced the importance of giving back to my community and improving patient care through understanding and engagement.
