Noemi Santana, MD, MS
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Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. Noemi was born in Santa Rosa, California, and raised in nearby Lake County, CA. Growing up in rural Northern California as the daughter of migrant farm workers, she was inspired to become a doctor for marginalized communities after witnessing her family’s struggles to find culturally competent care. After High School, she attended St. Mary’s College of California where she earned her Bachelor’s
Degree in English. |
During her time at St. Mary’s, she learned the importance of service, leadership, and advocacy for marginalized communities. After graduation, she completed her prerequisites for Medical School at Merritt College and San Francisco State, an unconventional pathway, yet she was determined to follow through. During that time she volunteered at a Women’s Community Clinic in San Francisco, CA as a health educator, where she became passionate about reproductive justice, sexual health education, and preventative general gynecological health. Additionally, she volunteered as a health advocate at Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA where she was able to advocate for underserved patients.
While applying for medical school Noemi began working for the Sacramento Native American Health Center where she learned about cultural humility as a Community Outreach Specialist. She lead the Culture is Prevention program, which focused on healing and health via practicing one’s native cultures which have been forgotten or erased with time, and suicide prevention in Native Youth. Being accepted into Graduate School, Noemi moved to North Chicago to earn her Master of Biomedical Sciences Degree and subsequently her Medical Degree. In medical school, as a summer fellow, at the Sinai Urban Health Institute, she worked with epidemiologists and public health leaders to study the association between loneliness and substance abuse in traditionally marginalized groups. This strengthened her understanding of the connection between addiction, behavioral health, and socioeconomic factors. Noemi is excited to join the Santa Rosa Community and to bring her efforts to help all those she can. During her free time, Noemi enjoys being active outside — running, hiking, taking walks, connecting with nature, writing poetry, flower pressing/crafts, and most of all spending time with her husband Joey, and daughter Sofia.
While applying for medical school Noemi began working for the Sacramento Native American Health Center where she learned about cultural humility as a Community Outreach Specialist. She lead the Culture is Prevention program, which focused on healing and health via practicing one’s native cultures which have been forgotten or erased with time, and suicide prevention in Native Youth. Being accepted into Graduate School, Noemi moved to North Chicago to earn her Master of Biomedical Sciences Degree and subsequently her Medical Degree. In medical school, as a summer fellow, at the Sinai Urban Health Institute, she worked with epidemiologists and public health leaders to study the association between loneliness and substance abuse in traditionally marginalized groups. This strengthened her understanding of the connection between addiction, behavioral health, and socioeconomic factors. Noemi is excited to join the Santa Rosa Community and to bring her efforts to help all those she can. During her free time, Noemi enjoys being active outside — running, hiking, taking walks, connecting with nature, writing poetry, flower pressing/crafts, and most of all spending time with her husband Joey, and daughter Sofia.