UMass Chan medical student Waldo Zamor among ‘29 Who Shine’

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	Waldo Zamor, School of Medicine class of 2016, was named one of the 2016 '29 Who Shine' by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

UMass Medical School student Waldo Zamor, School of Medicine Class of 2016, was named by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education as one of its “29 Who Shine” honorees for 2016. The awards recognize graduating students for exceptional commitment to community service and outstanding academic achievement. Zamor was honored by Gov. Charlie Baker at the State House during the sixth annual “29 Who Shine” ceremony on Monday, May 9.

“I congratulate the 2016 award recipients and thank them for their substantial contributions to their campuses and local communities,” said Gov. Baker. “Each of the 29 Who Shine honorees represents our future citizenry and workforce and has already made a positive impact on the commonwealth.”

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education launched “29 Who Shine” in 2011 to recognize outstanding students from each school in the commonwealth’s public higher education system. Nominated by their schools, each honoree is a Massachusetts resident who has made an outstanding civic contribution to the state and intends to remain in the commonwealth after graduation.

“The outstanding students on this year’s list of 29 Who Shine honorees have come from many countries, overcome many obstacles,” said Carlos E. Santiago, commissioner of Higher Education. “I am so proud of what they have achieved and look forward to seeing how they continue to put their talents to work on behalf of us all.”

Deeply committed to public health and service, Zamor is an example of the tremendous impact medical students can have on the health and well-being of their communities and patients. Set to receive his medical degree on June 5, Zamor will be staying in Worcester to do his residency in dermatology at UMass Medical School.

Zamor has been actively involved in several public health initiatives and community medical clinics since arriving at UMass Medical School. Working with the Worcester Department of Public Health, he led the Barbershop Health Network, an organization aimed at addressing health disparities in the city of Worcester through outreach and education. He also petitioned Worcester civic leaders for and helped organize a K–2 public school vaccination effort.

While completing his medical studies, Zamor volunteered with the Melanoma Foundation of New England and helped develop the “Your Skin is In” campaign, a program designed to educate teens and young adults on the dangers of indoor and outdoor tanning and the direct link between UV exposure and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. He also was involved in advocacy efforts in the city of Worcester to ban indoor tanning for minors. With the support and guidance of dermatologists at UMass Medical School, he was invited to give a presentation on the dangers of indoor tanning to the Worcester Board of Health.

Zamor regularly volunteered at free medical clinics in the area, such as St. Anne’s Free Clinic in Shrewsbury, where he also took on responsibility for coordinating volunteer staff. He has a keen interest in population health and serves on the advisory committee for the Community Health Improvement Plan of Central Massachusetts.

“I have a really strong interest in addressing health care disparities in underserved populations,” Zamor said. “Dermatology is an unmet need in skin of color. I grew up seeing a lot of dermatological diseases and poorly treated skin conditions as a child, and that’s something that’s always been in the back of my mind. I chose UMass Medical School to pursue my medical education because of the institution’s commitment to bettering the health of the commonwealth. I have strong interests in public service and community health, and I was able to explore and expand on those interests in population health here.”

In addition to his civic work, Zamor has excelled in his medical studies, and is recognized as a leader amongst his peers, working tirelessly to encourage civility, collaboration, mutual respect and equality in the work environment. He was nominated by his peers and selected as a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Among his many mentors at UMMS, Zamor is especially grateful to Michael P. Hirsh, MD, professor of pediatrics and acting commissioner of the Worcester Department of Public Health. “Having the opportunity to engage in public service is an honorable part of medicine,” said Zamor. “Dr. Hirsh took it upon himself to ensure that my interest in engaging the underserved community had an appropriate platform. In emulating him, I not only hope to continue his tireless efforts, but to also multiply it as he did with me.”

Zamor graduated cum laude from Northeastern University in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience. While pursuing his undergraduate degree he worked as an EMT in the Boston Metro area and was a teaching assistant in Northeastern’s EMS course.

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