UCSF Fresno’s success and growth are a direct result of the dedication and inspiration of our faculty, staff, residents, fellows, students, alumni, partners, donors and friends. In each issue of Focus, we introduce you to the people who contribute to the greatness of UCSF Fresno through informal interviews.
Audrey T. Garcia-Lahrs MS, MPH, UCSF SJV PRIME, is excited to begin her MS3 rotations at UCSF Fresno this year.
What is your name? Nickname?
My name is Audrey Garcia-Lahrs, but I go by Aud (she/her).
What is your hometown? Where did you go to High School? Undergrad?
I grew up in Porterville, CA and went to high school at Harmony Magnet Academy in Strathmore, CA (’17). I went to undergrad at UC Santa Barbara (’21) where I majored in Environmental Studies (BA) and minored in Comparative Literature before completing an MS in Medical Sciences and an MPH in Environmental Health at Boston University (’24).
Why do you want to be a physician?
I grew up in a rural, medically underserved community and had the privilege of watching my father work as a family physician at a local federally qualified health center, an experience that deeply shaped my understanding of medicine from a young age. At the same time, I faced health challenges as a child and often had to travel nearly two hours to see a pediatric specialist at Valley Children’s Hospital, making me acutely aware of the disparities in access to care that existed in my hometown. Witnessing both my father’s commitment to his patients and my own family’s struggle to obtain specialty care instilled in me a strong desire to be part of the solution. I became drawn to medicine not only for its scientific and clinical challenges, but for its profound ability to serve individuals and strengthen entire communities.
Why did you choose UCSF SJV PRIME?
I chose UCSF SJV PRIME because it gives me the opportunity to learn from and give back to the community that quite literally raised me and made me who I am today. Growing up in the San Joaquin Valley, I saw both the strength of the people and the deep health care needs of the region, and those experiences are what inspired me to pursue medicine in the first place. The SJV is such a critical and often overlooked part of California, and being part of a program that is so intentionally rooted in serving this community feels like coming full circle. It’s incredibly meaningful to train in a place that reflects my values and allows me to invest in the very community that shaped my path.
What has surprised you most about your first year of medical school?
What has surprised me most about my first year of medical school is how genuinely supportive the community has been. Coming from a premed culture that often felt competitive and toxic, and after taking three years between undergrad and medical school (especially without a traditional pre-med background) imposter syndrome hit me hard at first. I didn’t expect such a strong sense of collaboration and encouragement, and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a community that truly cares about one another’s success.
What specialty have you enjoyed the most so far and why?
So far, I’ve most enjoyed shadowing in OB-GYN with Yolanda Tinajero, MD, where I had the incredible opportunity to witness the miracle of childbirth. I was even able to scrub in and observe a C-section, which was mind-blowing and deeply moving. It is safe to say I cried right alongside the new parents (and the baby). It was definitely one of those moments that reminded me of exactly why I chose medicine.
What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your academic journey so far?
The most challenging aspect of my academic journey so far has been learning how to balance the intense demands of medical school with being newly married, especially since my husband attends a different medical school, which makes time management even more important. Navigating long days of studying while maintaining our relationship has pushed me to become more intentional with my time. The most rewarding part of this journey has been the people I’ve met along the way. I’ve formed so many meaningful friendships with classmates who are not only incredibly supportive but who I know will become compassionate, dedicated physicians. Having this community makes even the hardest days feel worthwhile!
What is at the top of your personal to-do list?
Probably pet my dog. She’s the goodest of girls and deserves all the pets and snuggles!
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to spend time walking my pup with my husband, reading, or trying out new arts and crafts. I recently started knitting and took up water-color painting in the last couple of years. I also have a medstagram (@aud.in.med) where I share silly videos and free premed resources!
What is the most important thing you would like people to know about you? Or what else would you like to add about you, your background, family, or career?
One of the most important things I’d like people to know about me is that I am genuinely curious and deeply interested in the many factors that shape health, and that curiosity guides me on how I approach medicine. I have always been drawn to learning beyond the traditional science of medicine, from studying environmental health to earning a certificate in the medical humanities, because I believe understanding people’s stories, cultures, and environments is just as important as understanding their diagnoses. Recently, this interest has grown into a personal passion project focused on creating web-based tools to improve health outcomes for Filipino Americans living with type 2 diabetes, which has been both meaningful and formative in shaping the kind of physician I hope to become.
