Gabriella Sigal is 23 years old, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, the same area she hopes to one day serve as a physician. Having lived in the San Fernando Valley all of her life, she attended Granada Hills Charter High School before receiving her Bachelor of Science in Physiological Sciences from UCLA, sparking her interest in physiology and medicine. Wanting to deepen her understanding about the human body, she decided to pursue a Master of Science in Physiological Science also at UCLA, where her primary focus was on teaching undergraduate students physiology and anatomy, as well as conduct research investigating chronic pain and opioid use. Her master’s thesis investigates the role of mu opioid receptors in opioid-induced aversion.
Gabriella is now beginning her first year of medical school at UC Irvine School of Medicine in Irvine, CA. While remaining open, she is interested in pursuing dermatology because of its unique blend of longitudinal patient relationships, procedural medicine, and opportunities to improve quality of life. She hopes to ultimately practice in an urban, underserved setting in California. She also hopes to involve herself in clinical research, contributing to the development of novel therapies to bridge scientific discovery and patient care.
While remaining an active member of her Jewish community in Northridge, CA, Gabriella additionally has been a ballroom dancer since she was five years old, a major hobby of hers that she hopes to continue during the highs and lows of her medical training.