Alanie Flores: ‘I want to be the person families trust’

Alanie Flores was only 13 years old when a middle school physiology class changed the course of her life.

As she learned about diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol in the classroom, the lessons became deeply personal. Many of the conditions her teacher described were the same ones affecting her own family in Buckeye, Arizona. She began to understand the health issues her parents and relatives were experiencing — and she found herself bringing those lessons home.

“I would go home and tell my dad, ‘In class I learned ...,’” Flores recalled. “Then my family started asking me questions. I wasn’t qualified to answer them, but it was the first time I felt like I could help.”

That experience planted the seed for a career in medicine, but it wasn’t until years later, after losing her grandmother during the COVID-19 pandemic, that her purpose became clear.

“My family could tell me she had a stroke, but nobody could explain how we got there,” Flores said. “I threw myself into learning because I wanted to understand. Looking back, that was how I coped.”

Finding her path

That search for answers led her to the University of Arizona, one of the few universities in the country offering physiology as a standalone undergraduate major. For Flores, the subject transformed learning from an obligation into a passion.

“I realized I could spend four years learning physiology,” she said. “I thought, ‘Sign me up.’”

For Flores, a degree in physiology was the first step toward a career as a doctor, and her experiences after graduation reinforced that goal. Working as both a caregiver and medical scribe, Flores saw firsthand how empathy shapes patient care. Caring for older adults in their homes taught her lessons she will carry with her throughout her medical education.

“It humbled me,” she said. “You learn that treating someone is one thing, but helping them get dressed, comb their hair and preserve their dignity is something entirely different.”

Accelerating her pace

Preparing for her next steps, Flores discovered the Primary Care Accelerated Medical Pathway (PCAMP) program, an innovative three-year MD program at the College of Medicine – Tucson that reduces the time and financial burden of medical school. After receiving their MD in three years, students complete a three-year family medicine residency here in Tucson, helping to address Arizona’s growing primary care physician shortage.

The program’s mission immediately resonated with her.

“I felt like someone finally had my back,” she said. “They weren’t just talking about helping students. They had created a program that actually addressed the challenges we face.”

As she explored the program’s requirements and its focus on a specialty in family medicine, she realized it aligned perfectly with her goals.

“I wanted to be the person families trust,” she said. “Not someone they see once and never see again.”

Committing to family medicine

For Flores, family medicine offers the opportunity to care for patients throughout every stage of life while helping them better understand their health.

“I want patients to leave knowing more about themselves than when they walked in,” she said. “I don’t want them to leave confused.”

Now, Flores will begin medical school as both a PCAMP student and recipient of the Primary Care Physician Scholarship, allowing her to continue serving the state where she was raised.

“I feel honored to help address Arizona’s physician shortage,” she said. “My family is here, my community is here, and this is where I want to make a difference.”

As she reflects on the kind of physician she hopes to become, Flores believes the foundation of good medicine is built on strong patient relationships. She hopes to combine clinical excellence with empathy and thoughtful communication at every stage of a patient’s care.

“If I’m going to be a physician,” she said, “I want to be the one who never loses my humanity.”