Esmeralda Lezama-Ruiz – Wisconsin

Esmeralda Lezama-Ruiz is a clinical research assistant at MCW for the Prevent Anal Cancer (PAC) study. This current research involves trying to find the best ways to test for anal cancer in gay and bisexual cis-men and transgender persons. Esmeralda attended Marquette University and graduated magna cum laude in 2020. She has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. She aims to bring more resources and opportunities to the Hispanic &Latinx communities. She believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity in all aspects of life. This includes healthcare, education, access to food, housing, financial stability, and more. As an intern at the Sojourner Truth Family Peace Center, she developed a passion for this and solidified it as an intern at Project Return. Esmeralda enjoys a variety of nature trails and spots around Milwaukee, WI. She is an avid lover of animals and loves spending time with her family and friends. She has 3 adorable dogs (Roxy, Bruno, and Chula) that are full of energy and an amazing husband. She loves to travel and hopes to visit every state in the US and Mexico.