Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos
Conference Scholarship
Honoring a Legacy of Grit and Excellence
CYFAM is proud to introduce the CYFAM Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos Conference Scholarship, our first-ever scholarship supporting Filipinx American medical trainees in their leadership and educational journey. This scholarship honors Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos, whose perseverance and dedication continue to inspire future generations.
By launching this scholarship in his name, CYFAM is committed to ensuring that his legacy of grit and excellence lives on, empowering the next generation of Filipinx American medical leaders.
A special thank you to Dr. Leigh Ramos-Platt for representing the Ramos family and supporting this meaningful tribute.
About Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos
Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos, born in the Philippines, dreamed of becoming a doctor but couldn’t pursue it due to financial constraints.
This missed opportunity shaped the family’s drive for success. At just 21, he became an engineer, part of the U.S. recruitment efforts to bring talent from Asia. His journey led him to serve as a U.S. military engineer consultant, working in places like Guam and Hawaii. Due to the nature of his work for the U.S., he became proficient in multiple languages to communicate in countries where English was not commonly spoken. Known for his strict personality, he often stressed the importance of proving oneself, reminding those around him: “Don’t give people in the U.S. an excuse to think you aren’t as good as them.” However, this stern demeanor softened with time, particularly after his grandchildren were born when he transformed into a warm and affectionate figure.
He passed away in 2016, leaving behind a legacy of determination, love, and resilience.
He was grateful for the U.S. but took a lot of pride in his Filipino roots.
Scholarship Details
Award:
Four (4) $300 grants.
Purpose:
To help offset travel and related expenses for CYFAM Conference attendees.
Awardees:
Recipients will be recognized as CYFAM Ramos Scholars.
What does the Scholarship cover?
The CYFAM Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos Conference Scholarship helps offset travel and related expenses for CYFAM Conference attendees.
Examples include:
Transportation Costs
Includes airfare, train or bus tickets, and mileage reimbursement for those driving to the Conference.
Lodging Expenses
Helps cover hotel stays, shared accommodations, or other necessary housing costs during the Conference.
Conference-related Expenses
Supports essential materials needed for participation, such as research poster printing.
Inaugural Scholars (2025)
Angeline Blancia
Medical Student – Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Angeline Blancia is a powerful example of resilience transformed into purpose. Growing up in a low-income household facing food insecurity, she not only navigated those challenges but has used them as the foundation for her advocacy in health equity and nutrition education. From early volunteer work to clinical roles in underserved communities, she’s carried those lived experiences forward with intention. As a scribe and head trainer, she not only led with empathy but wove health literacy and cultural humility into training new team members. Her understanding of systemic barriers—particularly how food insecurity and cultural disconnects impact Filipinx patients—comes from a place of deep personal insight and professional clarity.
Her journey reveals maturity and heart, especially in her reflections on mentorship and community empowerment. Angeline’s vision isn’t just about becoming a doctor—it’s about creating spaces of belonging and agency for others like her. Her passion for culturally sensitive care and her commitment to uplifting others through mentorship reflect the values at the core of CYFAM.
Angeline has already laid the groundwork for meaningful change and is poised to deepen her impact as a compassionate and community-rooted physician leader.
Katherine Chua
Medical Student (PRIME-US) – University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Katherine Chua embodies the heart of the CYFAM Ramos Scholarship through their sustained leadership, cultural humility, and commitment to health equity. As a 1.5-generation Filipinx American and first in their family to pursue medicine, their path has been shaped by navigating systems with limited guidance and finding strength through community. Their deep involvement in CYFAM—from its early days during the pandemic to coordinating national conferences—demonstrates commitment and growth, evolving from mentee to mentor and advocate. With a clear understanding of Filipinx Americans' barriers, from structural data invisibility to cultural stigmas like bahala na, they bring both lived experience and insight to their work.
Now a medical student passionate about oncology, they aspire to return to Los Angeles to deliver culturally tailored care and co-create community-driven cancer screening and prevention programs. Their responses reflect emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and a vision grounded in partnership, equity, and cultural resonance.
Katherine is not only prepared to excel as a physician—they are already building the kind of future our community deserves.
Gabriel Ordonez
Staff Research Associate – UCLA Health
Gabriel Ordonez stands out as a powerful and poetic voice. His writing is not only eloquent, but deeply intentional—each response reads like a call to action, grounded in lived experience, cultural reflection, and scientific vision. Gabriel brings a unique dual lens to medicine: the heart of a community-rooted healer and the mind of an aspiring physician-scientist. Whether reflecting on his father’s A1c levels over dinner or envisioning a nationwide Filipinx research consortium, he draws clear connections between personal memory, community needs, and systems-level change. His journey reflects not only great thoughtfulness, but a rare kind of clarity: he knows exactly why he’s here, and who he’s here for.
His vision for a Filipinx-led research consortium, paired with a commitment to NIH-funded work in cardiovascular and metabolic disease, speaks to his desire to uplift an entire community—both in representation and in health outcomes. He comes with his grounded perspective, his commitment to culturally competent care, and his ability to translate both scientific knowledge and cultural nuance into actionable plans.
Gabriel isn’t just seeking a seat at the table—he’s building new ones, rooted in collaboration, equity, and representation. He is already shaping into the kind of physician-leader our community has long needed: bold, brilliant, and deeply anchored in kapwa.
Juben Angelo Saez
Medical Student – A.T. Still University in Arizona
Juben Angelo Saez brings a grounded, authentic voice to his pursuit of medicine—one shaped by self-discovery, service, and an unwavering commitment to underserved communities. His journey has been anything but linear, marked by bold exploration—from nearly pursuing professional soccer to seriously considering other careers. Yet through immersive experiences in global health, particularly with Rocky Point Medical Clinics, he found clarity in his purpose. His writing reveals a steady realism; he does not overstate or romanticize his goals, but rather reflects thoughtfully on what he’s seen, what he’s capable of now, and what he’s building toward.
At the heart of his vision is a deep investment in global health equity, especially in the Philippines. His plan to build a sustainable clinic model, informed by both his leadership in the Global Health Honor Society and his work with community health initiatives, is ambitious but deeply personal. Juben is already putting in the work—joining missions, building networks, and learning from mentors like those he connected with at the 2025 CYFAM Conference. What stands out is not just what he wants to do, but how he’s getting there: step by step, skill by skill, and always with community in mind.
Juben is on his way to becoming the kind of physician who leads with humility, cultural awareness, and a genuine desire to serve.
How to Apply?
Interested in becoming a CYFAM Ramos Scholar? Follow the steps below to apply for the CYFAM Mr. Ramon Niango Ramos Conference Scholarship!
📅 Scholarship Timeline
Applications Close: Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific
Scholars Notified of Decision: Week of Monday, February 23, 2026
Recognition Event at Conference: March 14-15, 2026, in Houston, TX
📢 If Selected as a Scholar:
You will be featured on CYFAM’s social media and website!
A headshot and brief statement will be required for acceptance and recognition.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must:
✔️ Be 18 years or older
✔️ Have a permanent address in the United States
✔️ Have attended the 2026 CYFAM Conference (proof of ticket required)
✔️ Be pursuing or planning to pursue a medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent)
✔️ Not started post-graduate medical training (residency)
✔️ Only submit one application per individual
Eligible applicants include:
Pre-medical students
Medical students
International medical graduates (IMGs) who have not started residency
Members of CYFAM National Government, including volunteers.
Ineligible applicants include:
Past Ramos Conference Scholarship awardees
✏️ Four Short Essays
As part of the application, we kindly ask you to reflect on these four questions (1,250-2,000 characters each):
What is the most pressing health challenge facing Filipinx American communities today? How would you address this issue as a future physician?
What challenges have you faced on your journey toward medicine? How have these experiences shaped your understanding of healthcare access and equity?
As a future physician, how do you envision a lasting impact in Filipinx American or underserved communities? What specific initiatives or approaches would you focus on?
What are you hoping to learn, experience, or feel at the 2026 CYFAM Conference that might influence how you approach your path in medicine?
💡 Questions? Contact us by using our Contact Page.
Apply today and take the next step in your medical journey! 🚀
About CYFAM
The Council of Young Filipinx Americans in Medicine (CYFAM) is a wide-reaching national network for advocacy, scholarship, and community partnership. Dedicated to its mission of promoting the leadership development of young Filipinx American physicians and trainees, reinforcing the educational pipeline, and addressing structural health inequities, CYFAM strives to foster a space that welcomes all who share in its mission. Since its founding in 2019, CYFAM has represented over 595 trainees and professionals across the United States. Its programming has impacted over 100 trainees, and its public health endeavors have reached over 500k Filipinx Americans.