Jesse Murillo

I am Jesse Sanchez Murillo, and I grew up in Mexico and Southern California, specifically Vista and Encinitas. I graduated from UC Irvine with a bachelor's in Developmental and Cell Biology in Spring 2023. As an undergraduate, I conducted lab research as part of the NIH-funded IMSD program in antibiotic resistance, emphasizing my passion for the sciences. I also stepped into the role as a campus representative, providing campus tours and serving as a resource for prospective university students. Moreover, I further cultivated my leadership abilities by working my way up as a mentee, mentor, and eventually director of Visions Leadership, an on-campus student government organization. There, I focused my time in developing leadership and professionalism in undergraduate students through weekly workshops and creating advocacy projects to support underrepresented communities on campus.

During my gap year, I dedicated myself to honing my patient-care skills by continuing my role as a genetic counseling assistant at Genetics Center in Orange, CA. Here, I worked closely with patients facing Cancer, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s and Huntington's Disease, assisting them in scheduling and navigating the healthcare system as a Spanish interpreter. Beyond my aspirations in providing culturally-competent and compassionate healthcare, my passions include being an avid cinephile, music festival attendee, gamer, and fitness enthusiast.

Advocating for underserved patient communities by demonstrating empathy and patience in every interaction is my primary motivation to pursue a profession in healthcare. I am incredibly honored to be given the opportunity to pursue a career as a genetic counselor at UCLA, an institution I know has the resources to foster my growth.

Department: Human Genetics