Beyond Cancer Spotlight: Ricardo Avalos

Ricardo Avalos, LVN (He/Him/His) is the Education & Training Coordinator at the Stern Center for Cancer Clinical Trials and Research.

1. What are your career/research interests? 

My passion has always been to serve people, which led me to fall in love with the medical field, allowing me to help those in need. As an Education and Training Coordinator, I provide new staff with the tools and experiences necessary for their clinical research journey. Recently, my research interests have expanded to include corporate life cycle strategies.

2. How did your early life experiences shape your education and career choices? 

My best friend’s mother managed a private research site and offered me a job as an assistant to the assistant clinical research coordinator. Without a medical background, I faced a steep learning curve but excelled by asking questions to clarify tasks. This experience ignited my passion, leading me to pursue a Licensed Vocational Nursing program while working full time. Collaborating with Nurses and Doctors allowed me to ask questions and deepen my understanding of my studies.

3. What brought you to UCI?

Divine providence! My previous employer was a monastery, and when I felt the calling to return to clinical research, I googled "best research site in Orange County", UCI was the first result that came up. The position was intimidating since I knew nothing about cancer, but I was determined to learn everything I could to grow

4. How did you connect with others to build your own sense of community and belonging at work? 

From a young age, I learned to always enter a room with a smile, which creates a positive atmosphere and helps me connect with all personalities. My guiding principle is to find ways to serve others. In the fast-paced environment of clinical research, this made it easy for me to assist my colleagues when they needed help, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

5. What motivates you to serve your community and contribute to the CFCCC mission?

During my first few years at CFCCC, I witnessed a complete response in a research participant, making me proud to be part of the team. My grandmother passed away from breast cancer when my mother was nine, and seeing the impact on our family motivates me to strengthen our clinical research department. I am driven to help scientists find a cure for cancer and improve lives.

6. What challenges have you experienced in your professional journey? 

Resisting the snooze button in the morning and battling the occasional mid-afternoon caffeine crash are constant struggles. Beyond these, I've faced various professional challenges. Drawing from my boxing days, I’ve learned that when adversity hits, it's important to stand your ground, bob and weave to stop its momentum, and if possible, punch back. This mindset has helped me navigate and overcome obstacles in my career.

7. What personal or professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of teaching my sons the value of having a dream and achieving it through setting and reaching goals.

8. What are your interests/hobbies outside of work? 

I am a jack of all trades, always eager to learn new things. My interests range from agave harvesting and distillation to submitting trademarks and understanding alcohol regulations. I also enjoy figuring out how to take apart and reassemble the engine of a classic Jeep Wrangler.

9. What is a fun or random fact about you? 

I am a dual citizen with patrimony from Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. My family has deep roots in the town, which led me to work in our family distillery. This experience trained me to be a tequila wizard.

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