Pre-Med · Class of 2027

Melanie M. Soo

USC Dornsife '27 · B.S. Biological Sciences (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology) · Minor in Business Finance

Pre-med undergraduate at USC Dornsife with community health, hospital volunteer, and nonprofit leadership experience across California. Diploma-trained in clinical medical assisting through an accredited program and equipped with core wet-lab techniques from coursework — actively seeking clinical and research opportunities to build on that foundation.

Get in Touch LinkedIn ↗ Request Resume

Scroll

Profile

About Me

I'm a May 2027 graduate candidate at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology) on the Pre-Med track with a Minor in Business Finance. My academic foundation spans biochemistry, organic chemistry, cell biology, physics, and quantitative methods — the science and analytical toolkit that medical schools and research labs look for.

Beyond the classroom, I've built a portfolio of community health, hospital volunteer, and nonprofit leadership experience:

Community Health: Community Health Worker Intern at the My Baby My Way Foundation, supporting 400+ families in Palm Desert with healthcare navigation, food and housing resources, and preventative health education.
Hospital Volunteer: Hospital Volunteer at Sutter Health — Palo Alto Medical Foundation, leading a team of 5 volunteers to provide patient transport for 1,000+ patients and managing gift shop operations with $3,000+ in sales.
Clinical Training: Clinical Medical Assistant diploma from San Francisco State University (accredited program) — trained in phlebotomy, EKG, and HIPAA, with the technical skill set to step into a clinical support role.
Laboratory Skills: Hands-on coursework in ELISA, PCR/qPCR, Western blot, gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, chromatography, and micropipetting — the wet-lab toolkit to contribute in a research setting.
Leadership: Production Director for the USC American Cancer Society and Fundraising Lead for USC Partners in Health — securing $2,500+ in combined donations for cancer research, patient services, and global health equity programs in Sierra Leone.
Mentorship: USC Spring Admit Mentor supporting 2 incoming students through their transition to campus.

I'm drawn to medicine because it sits at the intersection of science, service, and human connection. With the clinical and laboratory training to match, I'm actively seeking the direct clinical and research opportunities that will round out my path to medical school.

400+ Families

Community Health Support

1,000+ Patients

Hospital Volunteer Assistance

$2.5K+ Raised

For Healthcare Nonprofits

3.8 GPA

USC Cumulative

Academic Foundation

Education

University of Southern California · Dornsife College

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology) — Pre-Med, Minor in Business Finance 3.8 Cumulative GPA

Los Angeles, CA · Expected May 2027

Relevant Coursework

Sciences: Biochemistry · Organic Chemistry II · Cell Biology · Physics II · Intro to Research
Quantitative: Probability and Statistics

San Francisco State University

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Program Diploma

San Francisco, CA · Jul 2024 – Jan 2025

Relevant Coursework

Clinical Training: Phlebotomy · EKG · HIPAA

College of San Mateo

46.50 College Credit Units 4.0 / 4.0 GPA

San Mateo, CA · Jun 2023 – Dec 2024

Relevant Coursework

Sciences: General Chemistry I · General Physics I · Human Biology
Quantitative & Social Sciences: Calculus · Psychology · Sociology

Real-World Practice

Work Experience

My Baby My Way Foundation 501(c)(3) Palm Desert, CA

Website LinkedIn Instagram

Community Health Worker Intern

Jul 2025 – Sep 2025

Provided client-centered support to 400+ families, connecting them to essential healthcare services, food programs, and housing support while identifying and removing barriers including nutrition needs, transportation gaps, and financial constraints to ensure equitable health outcomes.
Strengthened referral networks and enhanced community trust in preventative health initiatives across California.

Sutter Health — Palo Alto Medical Foundation Burlingame, CA

Website LinkedIn

Hospital Volunteer

Jun 2023 – Jan 2025

Led a team of 5 volunteers to offer transportation assistance to over 1,000 patients, guiding visitors to rooms and units while creating a calm and supportive experience; documented every interaction on paper to abide by hospital policies and confidentiality protocol.
Managed weekly gift shop operations including opening and closing procedures and shift revenue collection, contributing over $3,000 in sales.

Galileo Learning, LLC Burlingame, CA

Website LinkedIn

Summer Operations Staff

Jun 2023 – Aug 2024 · Seasonal

Supervised and led daily activities for a group of 15 campers, ensuring engagement throughout the day.
Collaborated with a team of 25 staff members to ensure the safety of campers by administering first aid when needed.

Service & Leadership

Leadership Experience

USC American Cancer Society 501(c)(3) Los Angeles, CA

Website LinkedIn Instagram

Production Director

May 2025 – Present

Led a team of 5 students to secure in-kind donations from local businesses around campus in support of Relay for Life.
Coordinated fundraising campaigns generating over $1,000 in donations for cancer research and patient services.

Engagement Committee Chair

Jan 2025 – May 2025

Collaborated with the executive board to recruit over 30 members by hosting events and activities surrounding cancer awareness.

USC Partners in Health 501(c)(3) Los Angeles, CA

LinkedIn Instagram

Fundraising Lead

May 2025 – Present

Organized fundraising initiatives, securing $1,500 in donations for global health equity programs in Sierra Leone and TB treatment.
Mentored interns and new members on USC's chapter mission, recruiting 20 new members to strengthen the organization.

USC Spring Admit Mentorship Program Los Angeles, CA

USC News

Mentor

Aug 2025 – Present

Mentored 2 incoming USC spring admits through their transition to campus with personalized guidance on course planning, campus resources, and involvement opportunities.
Fostered ongoing mentee relationships through bi-weekly check-ins across a 4-month semester.

Capabilities

Skills & Tools

Laboratory Techniques

ELISA ●●●●● PCR / qPCR ●●●●● Western Blot ●●●●● Gel Electrophoresis ●●●●● Spectrophotometry ●●●●● Chromatography / TLC ●●●●● Micropipetting ●●●●●

Clinical Skills

Phlebotomy ●●●●● EKG ●●●●● HIPAA Compliance ●●●●● Patient Intake ●●●●● Patient Communication ●●●●● CCMA Diploma ●●●●●

Software & Tools

Microsoft Excel ●●●●● Microsoft Office ●●●●● Google Workspace ●●●●● ChemDraw ●●●●● MestReNova ●●●●●

Community & Leadership

Fundraising ●●●●● Event Coordination ●●●●● Community Outreach ●●●●● Mentorship ●●●●● Team Leadership ●●●●● Public Speaking ●●●●●

Languages

English — Native ●●●●● Spanish — Conversational ●●●●● Cantonese — Beginner ●●●●●

Academic & Research

Biochemistry ●●●●● Organic Chemistry ●●●●● Cell Biology ●●●●● Probability & Statistics ●●●●● Research Methodology ●●●●●

Involvement

Organizations & Activities

USC Society of Cosmetic Chemists

USC Dornsife · Member

A student chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists focused on the science behind skincare, haircare, and personal care formulation — hosting industry speakers, lab demos, and career panels.

USC Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED)

USC Dornsife · Associate

The national pre-health honor society dedicated to excellence in pre-medical scholarship. Currently in the Associate program, with access to informational talks, panels, and health-related workshops hosted by the chapter.

USC Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association

USC Keck · Member

Addresses the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American communities through advocacy, education, and mentorship for students pursuing careers in medicine.

USC Neurotech

USC · Member

Interdisciplinary student organization at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and technology — research and innovation projects in neurotech.

USC Chinese American Student Association

USC · Member

Cultural organization celebrating Chinese American heritage and community at USC through cultural events, social programming, and connection-building.

USC WorldMed

USC · Member

Student organization focused on global health, bringing together pre-health students interested in international medicine and equitable healthcare delivery.