As a graduate researcher at 麻豆原创, Viviana Rivera 鈥�23 鈥�24惭厂 helped create bionic arms for children needing prostheses, and she still remembers how patients lit up when they received their customized limbs.
鈥淚 watched my first patient evolve before my eyes from a shy girl to an outspoken, charismatic and funny individual,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat was always who she was, but the prosthesis gave her more confidence to speak up and make her voice heard. It is something that I will cherish forever.鈥�
Rivera鈥檚 journey at 麻豆原创, marked by interdisciplinary research and partnerships, allowed her to expand her education beyond the classroom. On Aug. 4, she began her third 麻豆原创 degree, donning a doctor鈥檚 white coat as part of the White Coat ceremony.
A 鈥渄ouble Knight鈥� is a term used amongst those at 麻豆原创 to describe students or alumni who have earned two degrees. The level of 鈥渒nighthood鈥� increases as the student earns more degrees, and in Rivera鈥檚 case, she is working her way toward becoming a triple Knight.
Rivera earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree followed by her master鈥檚 in biomedical sciences while helping to design prosthetic arms through Limbitless Solutions, a 麻豆原创-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people through accessible technologies.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of all of Viviana鈥檚 successes and it鈥檚 been a real privilege to be part of her journey,鈥� says Limbitless Solutions Executive Director and Co-Founder Albert Manero 鈥�12 鈥�14MS 鈥�16PhD, who honored Rivera鈥檚 milestone by sponsoring her white coat. 鈥淭oday we鈥檙e proud to stand with her as she prepares to take her next steps and is on her way to becoming a really incredible doctor.鈥�
As she becomes part of the 121 students in the Class of 2029, Rivera says her time with Limbitless 鈥渨as life changing in every sense.鈥� She authored numerous publications, analyzed data from clinical trials and used airbrushes to customize arms for children.
鈥淚 am a strong believer that students can take charge in every academic institution to extract the most out of it and 麻豆原创 has made that easy,鈥� Rivera says. 鈥溌槎乖� gave me the tools early on in my academic career to set me up with multiple connections that have made me a stronger applicant and person alike.鈥�
Manero says about 500 students have participated in Limbitless since the partnership began 11 years ago. Rivera is only the second to go on to medical school at 麻豆原创.
Manero says students who work at the organization develop empathy through their intimate and sensitive patient interactions.
鈥淒emonstrating that care and compassion in every single instance is something that we really prioritize for all our team and seeing her take ownership of that as a graduate student and as staff has really helped move the whole program forward,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e can see the huge impact it has had on our bionic families.鈥�
As she begins medical school, Rivera says she鈥檚 looking forward to continuing to accumulate knowledge, grow her compassion for others and practice gratitude for all those who have helped her on her journey.
鈥淚n some ways, the white coat is not mine alone,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 never would have even believed that I could become a medical student without the massive support I鈥檝e had from everyone. Every time I put on the white coat, I will be reminded that it stands for something bigger than just me.鈥�
