Viviana Vega (Cloverdale Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians)
Medical Student

My name is Viviana Vega, and I am a second-year medical student in the Tribal Health PRIME program at the UC Davis School of Medicine. My journey began at a community college, where, as a first-generation student, I had to navigate higher education through sheer persistence and community support. These early challenges shaped my view of medicine as a path that must be cleared and held open for those who follow. Having witnessed the preventable health disparities, transportation barriers, and deep-seated mistrust within Native communities, I am committed to becoming a physician who addresses the systemic inequities that keep our people from culturally safe care.

I believe that health is inseparable from land, culture, and kinship—a perspective that is often missing from clinical conversations. My passion for community-based research, specifically in Indigenous food sovereignty and acorn foodways, stems from seeing how reconnecting with traditional practices can restore both health and identity. By bridging biomedical research with Traditional Ecological Knowledge, I hope to expand tribal health efforts that integrate traditional foods and land-based healing, honoring the resilience of the Elders and culture bearers who have mentored me.

Outside of my studies, I stay grounded through weightlifting, cycling, and spending time outdoors hiking and fishing with my family. I am also an artist, using painting and clothing design to express cultural joy and resilience. Ultimately, my goal is to empower Native communities by uplifting Indigenous knowledge systems and creating mentorship pathways for the next generation of Native medical students, ensuring that our traditions remain central to the future of healing.