As a teenager, Israel Davila-Aleman (CELL ’25) walked into the Hope Clinic seeking care but left with something much more profound: a lasting impression of what compassion in action looks like.
Working hard to make ends meet, Davila-Aleman’s parents relied on the Hope Clinic, a medical facility dedicated to serving the uninsured and underrepresented, for their healthcare needs. Davila-Aleman doesn’t remember exactly why he first needed to visit, but that day is burned into his memory.
Years later, as Davila-Aleman prepares for medical school, he splits his time between serving in the Hope Clinic and conducting cancer research at BYU with Dr. Amber Gonda. Her cancer biology lab focuses on early cancer detection through blood analysis that targets cancer-specific signals released by cells. “God has sent me so many people and experiences that have influenced me to focus on cancer research,” he says. “I cannot deny Him. He needs me to do this, and He needs me to grow and learn in this cancer research area. It has been such a blessing.”
To read more about Israel Davila-Aleman and other College of Life Sciences students, please visit https://lifesciences.byu.edu/college-news.
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UT | 463 |
| 2 | CA | 29 |
| 3 | ID | 27 |
