Growing up in Texas, Brooke Martinez had never heard of the University of Central Florida. A random email from UCF and a subsequent campus visit changed that. “The campus felt like home to me. I liked the atmosphere, the people, and the size.”
Initially a biology major, Brooke switched to Health Sciences during her freshman year. “It felt like a better fit, plus because of my health history, I had an interest in the pathogenesis of disease.”
Throughout adolescence, Brooke experienced chronic pain and mobility issues. Originally misdiagnosed by her doctor who prescribed medications that didn’t work, Brooke searched for answers on her own. This led her to suspect Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a diagnosis ultimately confirmed by a specialist.
Inspired to investigate the health care disparities and challenges experienced by patients with hEDS, Brooke enrolled in UCF’s Honor’s Undergraduate Thesis program. “So far, my work shows that it takes more than four years to get diagnosed, and over 80% of patients are initially misdiagnosed.”
Reflecting on her UCF experience, Brooke says, “UCF is a school of opportunity. I never imagined I would find my passion, conduct research, discover my next steps, and have a chance to do some impactful volunteer work, but here I am doing it.”
