Markus was born in Mexico, grew up in Columbia, Missouri, and finished high school in St. Louis. His interest in medicine began early, when as a young child, he served as Spanish-English interpreter for his parents during doctors’ appointments. Markus chose Harvard for college and met Kim, a Harvard alum, during his interviews.
At Harvard, he worked in the lab of one of Kim’s brain cancer research collaborators and continued the project in Kim’s lab during summer breaks. The experience was formative. “I decided I really wanted to be a doctor — to be the person who can walk with patients through their cancer journeys and also bring them hope through science.”
Here I am, born in Mexico, now going to one of the top-10 med schools in the country, for free, learning how to be a doctor and a scientist. I’m just extremely grateful.
Markus Anzaldua-Campos, Class of 2029
At WashU, Markus collaborates with three labs, pursuing immunotherapy for glioblastoma. “Having these kinds of research opportunities as a first-year medical student is kind of unheard of. It’s been absolutely amazing.” He also volunteers through two community organizations to mentor Hispanic and Latino students.
His scholarship, he says, removes the pressure of debt. “Every single scholarship gift makes a difference,” he says. He aspires to be an academic neurosurgeon and to run a residency program. “Here I am, born in Mexico, now going to one of the top-10 med schools in the country, for free, learning how to be a doctor and a scientist. I’m just extremely grateful.”