Profile

About: Hello! I'm Naomi and I'm a fourth year Public Health major. I love my major, specifically studying health disparities and social inequalities. Outside of T4K, I am involved in Texas Lassos and volunteering at the Health Innovations Lab at Dell Medical School. I spend my time going to concerts, making Spotify playlists, and distracting my friends from studying. I also love Thai food, (attempting) to run, and enjoying a nice sunset!

Thank you for visiting my page! I hope you find support in Texas 4000 and I would love if you'd reach out to me with your story or experience. There's a growing list at the bottom on my page for people I will keep with me!

Why I Ride

I ride for everyone I met last summer, when I had the opportunity to shadow an interventional radiologist at the renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I gained so much knowledge about state-of-the-art techniques that are done noninvasively through imaging. But the most important thing I witnessed was how severe and heartbreaking going through cancer can be. I met patients, learned about their stories, and saw them through to the operating table. The people I interacted with ranged from very young to very old, sometimes with no rhyme or reason to their ailment. It expanded how I saw the field of medicine and peaked my interest into cancer research and treatment.

I ride for Chinthana and her family, who lost their father to cancer during our senior year of high school. She is an incredibly humble and hardworking person, who also manages to make me laugh with everything she says. Chin taught me a lot about resilience and strength.

I ride for Aunty Chuni, one of the most lively women I know, who is currently recovering from an experimental spinal tumor surgery.

I ride for families who are struggling with this illness away from their family. It is a unique and difficult experience to have a family member on the other side of the world, fighting this battle alone. I ride for Aunty Rochelle, who is experiencing this challenge with her mother, A. Meghan, in India.

I am incredibly lucky to have not had a close friend or family member with cancer. But I am aware of this blessing, and I want to learn more about your stories, and who you want me to ride for.

To Alaska and back,
Naomi

An ongoing list of people I'm riding for:
For Noel Fernandes, my granduncle
For Sam Alphonso, U. Brian's dad who passed away in January
For Louis Alphonso and his daughter Lorraine, who both passed from cancer
For Anita Ganguli
For Rita Rodrigues
For Phyllis Mitchell