Mairim Melecio-Vazquez is pursuing a double major in biology and psychology with a concentration in pre-medical studies.  Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, Mairim has developed a respect for diverse communities, cultures, and religions, and the open mind to serve them. Major influences, she says, are her faith and the experiences and people she has encountered while volunteering and serving local communities. In 2010, Mairim was an asthma literacy advocate at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital in the South Bronx. This program is aimed at helping families with an asthma sufferer improve their health literacy. Mairim is currently assisting with psychology field research in CCNY, as well as interning at local hospitals including Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital. She is also a staff member at the New York Botanical Garden, where she helps to manage the Explainer program, which educates children about science. Mairim’s goals are to improve doctor-patient relations by expanding public health policy while continuing to serve underprivileged communities.