Alex Vazquez-Cortes

“My instructors at Gresham High School played a key role in my understanding of important course material across subjects,” explained Vazquez-Cortes.  

Connecting with his teachers made all the difference for Alex Vazquez-Cortes during his time at Gresham High School. There were several he connected with personally, which made him feel comfortable enough to ask questions and seek their guidance when he needed clarification. 

The College Possible program at GHS opened his eyes to the opportunities available to him after graduation. As a child of immigrants with no higher education, he had difficulty understanding college and whether he would be a good fit. The program provided him with the information needed to navigate the postsecondary world. Mentors guided him down a pathway to applying, being accepted, and succeeding in college. 

Additionally, through GHS, he was offered a spot in the Health Sciences program at the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL), where he spent his junior and senior years learning medical concepts and clinical applications, while concurrently taking International Baccalaureate classes at GHS. These courses helped him understand what to expect after leaving high school, strengthened his study habits, and gave him a head start on his college journey.

Through all of these experiences, he graduated high school with enough college credits to start his first year of college as a sophomore, was proficient in clinical skills, and felt confident that he was on the right path. He eventually graduated from Portland State University with a bachelor’s degree in public health and pre-medicine. 

During his undergraduate years, he worked for a National Institutes of Health-funded research program that paired him with a clinical research lab at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The program connected him with a cancer research training program at the OHSU’s Knight Cancer Institute, where he mentored Oregon high school students and college undergraduates from rural communities around the state. The training was centered on cancer research, ethics, and lab etiquette.

Alex later earned an associate’s degree in applied science in respiratory care. Now, he works as a respiratory therapist at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital while continuing research at the Knight Cancer Institute. 

Aside from medicine and research, he occasionally substitutes at GBSD. In his personal life, he enjoys bike riding and nature photography.