Medical Student Recognized as National Fellow for Community Health Leadership

Justin Perez, a third-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), has been named a 2025–2026 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow in recognition of his commitment to community engagement, mentorship, and advancing health equity.

Perez joins a national cohort of student leaders recognized for their dedication to creating positive social change. During the year-long fellowship, the students will receive training, networking opportunities, and resources to help them develop strategies for long-term community impact.

“It’s an honor to be part of something that values service and leadership,” Perez says. “This fellowship will help me continue to grow as a physician and community advocate.”

Giving Back to Underserved Communities

Perez’s motivation to give back is rooted in his own journey. Growing up in an underserved community on Milwaukee’s South Side, he experienced firsthand the systemic barriers that limit access to education and healthcare, especially for undocumented and minority youth.

“Mentorship played a significant role for me as a pre-med student growing up in the neighborhood that I did,” Perez says. “Now, I want to give back and help others in the same way I was supported.”

A first-generation college student, Perez set his sights on a career in medicine despite the challenges.

“I was a very determined individual, and I was going to attend college no matter what it took,” Perez says. “I had a clear goal to pursue medicine and find people willing to support me.”

That drive has carried through to his work at MCW and in the community.

Perez played an active role in supporting underrepresented students in medicine as co-president of MCW’s Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). He participates in the Student Health Initiative for Pipeline Programs (SHIPP), a student organization that provides mentorship and academic support for students aspiring to enter the medical field.

He also mentored high school students through the Apprenticeship in Medicine (AIM) program, a summer initiative introducing youth to medical careers – a program he himself participated in as a high school student. He also volunteered at MCW’s Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured, where he helped provide free healthcare services.

Advocating for Milwaukee’s Youth

Through his Newman Civic Fellowship, Justin Perez hopes to expand his outreach efforts with youth in Milwaukee's South Side neighborhoods.

Perez mentors middle school and pre-medical students from Milwaukee’s North and South Sides, helping them strengthen their academic skills and envision themselves in careers in medicine.

He also works with initiatives that support undocumented and DACA students as they prepare for medical school, helping them navigate application challenges and access the guidance and resources they need.

“I want to increase representation within medicine,” Perez says. “I want young people to see that people who look like them are in these spaces – and that they can be here, too.”

As part of his Newman Civic Fellowship, Perez hopes to expand his outreach by developing a new community-based project that connects MCW medical students with youth in Milwaukee’s South Side neighborhoods.

“One of my goals is to take our expertise and knowledge back to the South Side – the neighborhood where I grew up – and teach kids about medicine, do fun activities with them, and hopefully get some of them interested early on,” he says.

“In the past, a lot of our outreach has been with well-resourced schools, but I want to bring this programming to communities like mine, where students don’t always get the same opportunities or exposure to careers in medicine.”

Perez says the fellowship’s support will be crucial in turning that vision into action.

“I don’t think I’d be able to carry out much of the community work I want to do without funding,” he says. “That’s why I’m thankful for the Newman Civic Fellowship – it gives me the resources to make these programs happen.”

Addressing Language Barriers in Healthcare

His advocacy also extends to improving healthcare access for underserved populations.

Beyond his volunteer work at the Saturday Clinic, Perez serves as a Spanish-language patient advocate and translator, helping bridge communication gaps between non-English-speaking patients and healthcare providers. His fluency in Spanish and cultural insight allows him to connect more deeply with patients, ensuring they receive equitable and compassionate care.

Perez says that addressing inequities requires both direct service and long-term structural change.

“Through programs and student organizations like LMSA, AIM, and my clinical rotations on Milwaukee’s South Side, I’ve seen how mentorship, representation, and culturally competent care can transform lives,” he says. “It’s about more than just providing care – it’s about opening doors for others to see themselves in medicine. That’s what keeps me motivated.”