Richard De Los Santos Abreu

We are delighted to introduce our alumni and friends family to Richard De Los Santos Abreu. Arriving in the United States during his senior year of high school, alumnus Richard de Los Santos Abreu faced a whirlwind of change - a new country, a new education system, and a new language. Fast forward some years and he is a passionate researcher in the field of epidemiology and toxicology. Richard shared his path with us.

Richard, where did you grow up and what motivated you to attend Broward College?

I grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I came to the US my senior year of high school and didn’t know much about the education system in the US, let alone the language. I decided to attend Broward College for several reasons. It was close to my new home, it was affordable, and, most importantly, it served as a way to open the door to many great opportunities.

Can you tell us about one or two moments that stand out about your time at the College?

I can tell you of many. But one that really stood out was my very first day at Broward and my very first class. It was Psychology 101 with Dr. Franco. Dr. Franco welcomed me and gave me the best advices to take advantage of all the opportunities offered at Broward. Which is why I then later joined the Honors College. Another great moment during my time at Broward was when I participated in the Service Learning Program. Here I met a great mentor Dr. Oliveira and traveled to Belo Horizonte, Brasil with the class. 

Did you have any favorite professors or people at the College who were important to you as a student?

Absolutely! These individuals were not only significant during my college years but continue to hold immense importance in both my professional and personal life today. Starting with Dr. Franco, Dr. Oliveira, Dr. Balzora who opened many great opportunities for students like me and continue to do so with the Pillars conference and the department internship. Dr. Dewey who still to this day is a great influence in my writing skills. He taught me everything I know and love about writing.

There are many more that made a great influence in my life like Dr. Kisha King and Dr. Rowena Hernandez!

Were there any particular resources at the college that were important to you when you were a student?

Absolutely! Besides finding mentorship in my professors, I took advantage of the online services that would help you with math courses. But besides any particular resource, the students at the Honors College and the professors were the most valuable resources on campus.

Were you a scholarship recipient as a student? If so, how did that assist you?

Yes, I was. I had the Elmore “Bob” Honors College scholarship. It definitely helped me with my time at Broward to afford my tuition, books, or any other expenses that would help me focus more on my education without having to worry too much about the bill.

Where did you go after Broward College? What was your path? How did what you learn at the College prepare you for your path?

After Broward, I went on to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. This was my dream college. I pursued Neuroscience and Psychology. At Hopkins, it’s incredibly usual to be involved in some sort of research. At Broward, I had professors that motivated me to pursue research, learn to read scientific articles, and do research presentations. Because of this, my transition into research at Hopkins was natural.

I did wet lab research on the role of BDNF on the hippocampus. A truly fascinating topic.

After Hopkins, I went to Columbia University in NYC, NY to complete my MPH in Epidemiology. Though it may seemed a bit far from Neuro and Psych, I actually focused on the epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders.

My future plans still hold a lot of studying. I would like to continue to medical school and become a physician. Whether that would be Neurology or Psychiatry, I leave that to destiny.

What do you wish other people knew about Broward College, something you think is a best kept secret or a something that makes our college standout among other institutions?

I wish other people knew how significant going to a community college, specially Broward College. Not only does it save you a great amount of money, but it prepares you to getting into your dream school. Also, the people you will meet, will be forever and support you throughout your entire academic career. One thing that really makes Broward stand out is the opportunities available for every student. Get involved on campus! Join a club! Go to office hours! Don’t have the club you like or are interested in? Create one. The possibilities are endless.