Victoria Asuquo, a 2019 summa cum laude graduate from UCCS with a degree in Biomedical Sciences and an emphasis in Pre-Medicine, wants to redefine what it means to combine compassion, innovation, and resilience in medicine. Now in her final year at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, she is focused on empowering others and helping them reclaim their confidence.
“Dermatology allows me to blend two of my greatest passions: helping others foster a deeper sense of self-love and expanding my knowledge of the intricacies of the human body,” Victoria said. “At a time when I felt reclusive because of a persistent and painful skin condition, it was my dermatologist who met me with compassion and expertise.”
She said that experience changed her life and ignited her desire to help others feel strong, confident, and capable.
"It’s about restoring self-love, alleviating pain, and giving people the courage to show up fully in their lives,” she said. “I want to provide my future patients with the same transformative care that I received.”
That future goal is well within reach for Victoria, who by all accounts left a lasting impact on the UCCS campus as well. During her time at the university, she served as president, vice president, and student advisor for the Kane Scholars Club. She was a member of the Pre-Health Society, Latino Student Union, African Student Association, student health advisory board, a peer educator, and the Colorado Collegiate Health Professions Development Program.
Victoria’s leadership and dedication to community was reflected when she was chosen to be a student speaker at the Northeast Denver Leadership Week hosted by Kaiser Permanente in 2019. On top of that, she was selected by UCCS staff and faculty to deliver the commencement address.
“I didn’t just want to be involved; I wanted to grow, to lead, and to create opportunities where others could thrive,” Victoria said.
She credits her success to learning the value of hard work.
“You have to put in the effort—day in and day out—and that’s what makes the difference in achieving your dreams,” Victoria said.
Her decision to attend UCCS was based on academics and the sense of community that drew her in during a campus visit.
“I still remember Steve Linhart, the former Dean of Students, walking through campus and eating at the school’s cafeteria just so he could interact with students and get to know their stories,” she said. “That warmth and commitment to the community made it clear that UCCS was the place I wanted to call home for my next four years.”
In addition to Linhart, Victoria said others like former scholarship coordinator Tam Doane, current interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Stephanie Hanenberg, and former instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry James Vivian left her with positive impressions that impact her to this day.
“A famous quote he left me and that I continue to live by is ‘education is the great equalizer,’” she said speaking of Vivian. “To me, this quote means that no matter where you come from socially, economically, or geographically, education is where potential and opportunity meet.”
At Morehouse School of Medicine, Victoria has been actively involved in providing free healthcare through a student-run clinic, tutoring other medical students, and volunteering with a mobile clinic offering free skin cancer screenings, all a part of her mission to find ways to serve others.
But she also said her greatest achievements don’t come from the accolades—they stem from the relationships and experiences that have shaped her journey.
“My greatest highlights thus far have been the incredible individuals I have met along my journey,” she explained. “I have had the privilege of supporting mothers as they fought through the complexities of childbirth. Equally profound has been the quiet moments spent sitting next to the bedside of a terminally ill patient, listening intently as they recall their cherished memories.”
For current UCCS students, Victoria’s advice is clear: “You are enough. You are strong. You are capable and you are equipped for everything you’re striving for. Don't wait for permission to pursue your dreams—go after them with everything you’ve got. Embrace the process, even when it gets tough. You have everything within you to succeed.”