Gathered with her classmates from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA on May 29, Denise Jimenez-Tapia had her parents and her farmworking community in mind as she and her classmates recited the Hippocratic oath to become the next generation of doctors.
As the eldest daughter of two farmworker parents from Lakeport, CA, Jimenez-Tapia recalled waking up at 3 a.m. to work with her father in the cherry fields starting in eighth grade. Her experiences seeing the joy of her parents and other farm workers despite all the hardships, health barriers and physical tolls they experienced inspired her to become a doctor and give back to her community.
At the 72nd graduation ceremony for the David Geffen School of Medicine on May 29, that vision became reality with Jimenez-Tapia now beginning her residency in family medicine at UCLA Health.
“I really believe that everything that has made me successful, all the tools I have, all the work ethic really comes from the farm working community I grew up with,” Jimenez-Tapia said. “I saw everyone hustling and sacrificing their bodies, all to provide a better future for their kids. Medicine is all about sacrifice. I really learned sacrifice from our farmworkers and from my parents. I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't come from where I came from. My passion for serving farm workers has been my anchor. My education is my parents’ ultimate harvest.”
Jimenez-Tapia is among the 20% of the graduating class who will continue their medical training at UCLA, making her a UCLA lifer. Others will move on to other hospitals and institutions in California and across the United States. For some of the graduating class, commencement represented more than a decade of schooling from undergrad onward, with some having done dual programs to receive a master’s degree or Ph.D. concurrently with their M.D.
Dr. Joe Sachs, executive producer and writer of the HBO Max’s medical drama series “The Pitt,” was the commencement speaker. Sachs gave the graduating class three lessons to reach the “top of the mountain” of their dreams and goals: prepare with passion, always be kind and “self-care yourself.”
Sachs said while The Pitt is fictional, the issues portrayed of burnout, depression and mental health struggles are realities for many modern doctors. He said he hopes that this new generation of physicians can set a new standard for care.
“Caring for people in their time of need, using your skills to diagnose and prescribe an effective treatment can be exhilarating, but medicine in 2026 can also be stressful and overwhelming,” Sachs told the graduates. “… With your engagement, we can change the culture and embrace the idea that needing support is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”
Dr. Steven Dubinett, dean of the medical school, told the class of 2026 to continue to remain curious, ask questions and be open-minded to succeed as both doctors and a member of the community.
“My wish for all of you is that the foundation you have built with us here at the David Geffen School of Medicine provides unwavering support for a long and fulfilling career in medicine,” Dubinett said. “While you have learned many technical aspects of medicine, your empathy and compassion are paramount.”
For Jimenez-Tapia, that empathy and compassion have already taken form. While at DGSOM, she and fellow classmate Erica Escalera co-founded La Cosecha. The organization, translated as “The Harvest,” provides healthcare resources, proper protective equipment and safety information specifically tailored to farm workers. The organization is now expanding to other areas of the state with medical students at UC San Francisco.
“A lot of the time, our events are the first time that these farmworkers have seen a physician since migrating to the United States,” Jimenez-Tapia said. “We try to meet them where they're at, so we regain that trust that has been lost.”
In addition to her medical degree, Jimenez-Tapia also earned a master’s degree in business and administration as part of UCLA’s PRIME-LA program. The program is dedicated to training future physicians to advance innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, policy, research and community engagement, with a focus on improving health outcomes across California’s communities.
Jimenez-Tapia said she plans to use these skills to one day run her own nonprofit organization to address language barriers, health care access disparities and improve the overall health of farm working communities.
“For me, it’s all about going back to my community and bringing the awareness of farmworkers and reducing the occupational health hazards they face and that impact their health,” she said.
