Sinibaldo Romero Arocha
Name: Sinibaldo Romero Arocha
Graduating Class: Class of 2028 (MD/PhD)
Undergraduate school attended and major: North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND; B.S. in Zoology and Biotechnology
Languages spoken: English and Spanish
Favorite activities to do in the Twin Cities? I really enjoy the food scene in the Twin Cities and I am always trying new restaurants in town. I am a bit of a coffeeholic and I enjoy studying or hanging out at coffee shops throughout the cities. The State Fair is a yearly highlight of my summer. Now that the pandemic restrictions are being uplifted, I look forward to continuing to explore our vibrant community.
Why did you choose the University of Minnesota Medical School and what do you like about it? Although I was born and raised on a tropical island, Minnesota has always felt like home. I like how nice and hard-working people are here. I was drawn to the UMN Medical School for several reasons. Our MSTP has a stellar reputation for producing high-caliber physician-scientists. On the medical school side, I liked the class size, the number of hospitals available for us to learn from, and the population that our hospital systems serve. As an immigrant, I take great pride in attending an institution that serves many patients from a similar background. After my first year of medical school, my peers and faculty continually remind me that I made the right choice.
What is the relationship between the students and the surrounding community? I think that our institution and medical school are quite intertwined with our local communities. Students are able to rotate and work in a myriad of sites in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul. There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer and give back to the cities.
Have you participated in any student organizations? If so, why did you select those organizations and what has been your experience? As an MD/PhD student, I serve on some internal committees for our program. Within the Medical School, I am currently part of the Latino Medical School Association (LMSA) as a Vice-President; finally, I also belong to some organizations that align with my clinical interests. I am passionate about education and mentoring; I am part of several organizations at the national level, such as the American Physician Scientist Association (APSA), that mentor students interested in pursuing careers in science and/or medicine at the national and local levels.