News

Act One

Like many kids growing up in Los Angeles, Paris Chan aspired to become a performer. Starting her career as a 6-year-old thespian studying at the Young Actors Studio in North Hollywood, she booked several roles and was even featured in a how-to book titled “A Young Actor Prepares.” It was during this time she heard a Shakespearean phrase that still resonates: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” But as much as she loved acting, she always knew it wouldn’t be a lifelong career. Like many during the COVID-19 pandemic, she rewrote her story — with a plot twist — and began focusing on medicine instead. The transition wasn’t as abrupt as it sounds. Chan was inspired by family members in the medical field and had focused on health in high school, playing on the varsity basketball team, running track, and serving as president of her school’s medical organization. She also participated in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” charity walk-a-thon. The feeling she got from that event stuck with her, and it’s part of what brought her to UC Riverside.

Home-Court Advantage

Chan said she applied to UCR because she wanted to attend a university with a medical school in an area where she had opportunities to engage with the community. Undergraduate research programs have allowed her to do just that by conducting public health research and community health assessments that measure stroke awareness, stroke prevention, and patient health literacy. She also chose UCR because of its proximity to home. On weekends, she makes the 60-minute drive to see her family and dogs in San Marino. She says home keeps her grounded. But the second she’s rested and refueled, she’s back at it — moonlighting as a youth basketball coach and personal trainer. And if you thought that was strictly push-ups and dribbling drills, you’d be wrong. Chan often has to bust out her EMT training to troubleshoot injuries on the court.

Gritty Girl

When Chan imagines herself as a doctor, the backdrop isn’t a traditional hospital or medical office — she’s healing soldiers. As if being a biochemistry major and global health minor wasn’t challenging enough, she’s also on track to becoming a military doctor through UCR’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). She joined for the unique opportunities, like the Health Professions Scholarship Program, which covers tuition and other expenses required for students to complete their professional training. As a cadet, Chan is studying military science, like chain of command, weaponry, and attack and defense formations. But where she thrives the most is the physical training, which cadets take part in three times a week. Field training exercises with her battalion include facing dust storms, rain, extreme heat, and mud, all while carrying 40-pound rucksacks. If the world is a stage, Chan is in her soldier girl era — camouflage face paint and all.

Enjoying the Ride

As she wraps up her second year as a Highlander, Chan checks off the many things she’s done and adds more to the list of things she wants to do. She’ll continue keeping up with her physical and mental fitness through judo competitions and club basketball. In her third and fourth years, she wants to join the Medical Reserve Corps of Riverside and San Bernardino, volunteering as an EMT during natural disasters or emergencies. She also plans to join the School of Medicine’s Health Coach Program, where she will care for community patients in a clinical setting. And last on her undergrad to-do list is attending Army Advanced Camp at Fort Knox and graduating from ROTC as a second lieutenant before moving on to medical school. Oh, wait! She also wants to ride a motorcycle before graduation — a sporty one like her dad used to ride. Her top choices are a Yamaha R6 or Honda CBR. And she’ll be extra careful thanks to all those EMT training videos she’s had to watch about motor vehicle safety. After all, she’s in the business of protecting lives.