#IamUCI – Andreea Dinicu
Q&A with Class of 2022 graduate Andreea Dinicu, M.D., M.P.H.
It was Andreea Dinicu’s love of medicine and passion for addressing healthcare inequalities that made UCI her top choice for medical school. Its Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community is a five-year M.D./master’s program that trains physicians to be leaders in their fields and meet the needs of Latino communities. In the summer of 2017, shortly after moving to California from Connecticut but before beginning classes at UCI, Dinicu spent two weeks with her PRIME-LC classmates traveling throughout the state, meeting with government officials and community leaders to learn more about issues affecting the patients they would be caring for as medical students. A strong supporter of programs that promote the success of women in health careers, Dinicu is one of the co-founders of the UCI chapters of the Association of Women Surgeons and Future Doctors in Politics. “Andreea leads through encouraging teamwork and creating equity with diverse groups,” says Dr. Charles Vega, PRIME-LC director. “No student in recent years has surpassed Andreea in terms of the complete package of clinical competence, activism and empathy.”
What is your favorite memory at UCI?
The PRIME-LC summer experience. Having just moved to California, I loved getting to know my new home and creating both personal and professional connections.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m absolutely thrilled to be heading to Cleveland Clinic for an OB/GYN residency.
“Andreea leads through encouraging teamwork and creating equity with diverse groups… No student in recent years has surpassed Andreea in terms of the complete package of clinical competence, activism and empathy”
– Dr. Charles Vega, PRIME-LC director
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope to have completed residency and either be a practicing OB/GYN or be pursuing additional training through a fellowship. Although I love the breadth of my field, I’m especially passionate about understanding and addressing disparities associated with gynecological cancers and aim to continue this work throughout my career.
Who was your biggest influence at UCI?
The PRIME-LC community has made all the difference throughout my time at UCI, and I’m thankful for the guidance of our program leaders, Dr. Charles Vega and Lucero Zamudio. I have also had incredible mentors in the School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at UCI Medical Center, especially Dr. Krishnansu Tewari.
What do you know now that you wish you had known before coming to UCI?
One of the most important lessons I learned at UCI is that life doesn’t stop, even for big exams or clinical rotations. It’s important to trust the process, to be kind to yourself and to believe in your dreams.
