It’s time to meet the Jan Maudlin Sarcoma Scholars from Mayo Clinic.
Axel M. Hidalgo is a rising second-year M.D./Ph.D. student at Mayo Clinic, originally from Ciudad Juárez, México. He holds a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience from the University of Southern California (USC), a Master’s in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine from USC’s Keck School of Medicine, and a Master’s in Bioinformatics with a Graduate Certificate in Big Data Analytics from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Axel’s research interests lie at the intersection of bioinformatics, oncology, and clinical outcomes, with a particular emphasis on unraveling the molecular drivers of cancer through multi-modal data approaches.
As a JM Sarcoma Scholar, Axel is passionate about bridging the gap between medical knowledge and public awareness, especially within diverse and underserved communities. He is particularly committed to educational outreach in bilingual and multilingual contexts, striving to make vital health information accessible to all.
In his role as a scholar, Axel aims to amplify his impact by creating educational resources and actively engaging the Rochester community to raise awareness about sarcomas. His dedication to research, education, and community engagement is driven by a steadfast desire to improve patient outcomes and contribute meaningfully to the field of oncology.
In his free time, you can find Axel playing classical guitar, brewing espressos, or on Rochester’s pickleball courts.
Stella V. Ma is a second year MD/PhD student at Mayo Clinic. She grew up in Madison, WI, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As an undergraduate, she conducted research on innate immune responses to tumors, wounds, and infections. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked at the NIH, conducting clinical immunology research. She is particularly interested in cancer immunology and plans to conduct research on tumor-associated inflammation during her PhD.
In her free time, Stella enjoys running, kayaking, and other outdoors activities, as well as drawing, crocheting stuffed animals, and walking her cats.
Stella is especially passionate about community outreach and empowering patients through education in nutrition, prevention, and general medical knowledge to enhance overall health. Through the Sarcoma Scholars program and as co-leader of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Oncology Interest Group, Stella is excited to pursue ventures focused on raising public awareness and understanding of sarcomas.