Israel Davila Aleman always dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. As an immigrant from Peru, his passion for the game went beyond a hobby — he considered it a core part of his identity. However, when Davila enrolled at BYU, he discovered a new dream: the chance to make a difference in the lives of immigrants like himself and his family.
As an undergraduate studying physiology and developmental biology, Davila had the opportunity to serve at the Hope Clinic, which provides free medical care to uninsured and low-income individuals and families. Doctors generously volunteer their time and expertise to serve at the clinic.
For Davila, who will be graduating this month, the clinic is more than just a place to volunteer — it’s a place of personal significance. As a child, he visited the Hope Clinic as a patient.
“I volunteer at the Hope Clinic on a weekly basis," Davila said. “They aren’t paying me or giving me a grade. I go because those people are my family and I have a moral responsibility for their welll-being.”
His experiences at the clinic as both a patient and volunteer not only inspired him to pursue medical school but also revealed an opportunity for meaningful research within the Latino community.
The clinic treats many patients, the majority of whom are Latino. One of the many diseases diagnosed at the clinic is H. pylori infection. This bacterium causes stomach inflammation and is the leading risk factor for gastric cancer. The infection is also a frequent diagnosis for Latino patients.
Davila teamed up with BYU professor Amber Gonda to research the correlation between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. By taking blood samples from patients at the Hope Clinic, they studied proteins and genes found on vesicles that are indicative of gastric cancer.
Davila and Gonda plan to use these biomarkers for early cancer detection.
“The hope is that once we complete all our data, we can draw a patient's blood and say, ‘You have this specific gene that indicates you may be developing gastric cancer,’” Davila said.
Through this experience, he realized that his schooling, research and service were deeply interconnected in ways he hadn’t expected.
“God was using me to serve in multiple ways instead of just the ways I could see,” Davila said.
This revelation has shaped Davila's future aspirations. He now plans to pursue a doctorate after graduation, preparing to become a physician-scientist dedicated to both patient care and medical research.
He describes BYU professors, including Gonda, as “reservoirs of knowledge.” His top advice for BYU students is to make the most of the connections they have with these exceptional professors. He encourages students to fully embrace their passions, assuring them that God will pave the path.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Davila believes that God has been shaping his life for some time, opening doors to opportunities he never could have anticipated.
He hopes his story can serve as a beacon of hope for other young immigrants who may be struggling to see their own future.
"I want them to know that I understand the challenges,” Davila said. “Whether it's education, family, immigration, or learning the language. But I also want them to know that they can overcome them. They can do it."
