My name is Meli Proano Alm, and I am beyond excited to participate in the Plus3 Spain program! I am a bioengineering student on the cellular track. In the future, I hope to work on eliminating inequities that exist in healthcare through engineering practical and feasible medical solutions via the biopharmaceutical industry. I also hope to take my work to an international level, to make a greater impact.

I’m from Rochester New York, and growing up I was involved in sports and music. Now, here at Pitt, I am involved in Engineering Student Council, BMES, and Club Pickleball. In my free time, I enjoy exploring Oakland through an afternoon run, or by trying out new off-campus restaurants.

I sought out to participate in the Plus3 Spain program because of it’s relevance to healthcare systems in foreign countries and for the opportunity to gain real-world exposure in the bioengineering field. I also am interested in experiencing the program alongside not only engineering students, but also nursing students because of the unique clinical perspective they can provide. I hope that this program gives me more global perspective that allows me to engineer mindful solutions that are considerate to all parties involved within the medical sector. I can’t wait to learn and grow as a bioengineering student on this trip!