How overcoming cancer led Valeria Pernas to pursue a career in holistic medicine
She was diagnosed in her 20s. Now, she’ll graduate with a degree in Integrative Health Care, so she can help others navigate treatment.
When Valeria Pernas first enrolled at Metropolitan State University of Denver, she was unsure about the academic path she would take. As a child, she had thought a career in medicine would be fulfilling, but self-doubt prevented her from pursuing it.
However, her life’s path took a radical turn during her first year at MSU Denver when Pernas received devastating news: a diagnosis of Stage 3 angiosarcoma, an extremely rare form of cancer. She had just turned 20 and needed immediate chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation.
Pernas found navigating the health care system challenging and recalls how she had to advocate for herself to simply receive a diagnosis.
“Through this challenge, I experienced great loss, but I also gained something meaningful: a spark in a dream I had tucked away,” said Pernas, who will receive MSU Denver’s prestigious Provost’s Award when she graduates in May.
Pernas’ treatment sparked her curiosity for the complexities of health care systems and disease management. While undergoing PET scans, she was awed to see her internal organs. Meanwhile, her radiation oncologist suggested acupuncture, medical massages and visits with a nutritionist — an approach Pernas found refreshingly humanizing.
“He made me see medicine in a different way,” said Pernas, a native of Costa Rica who moved to Denver in 2012. “When it was time for me to return to school, I knew I had to pursue this new passion.”
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She was done with treatment by January 2020, and thanks in part to her cancer journey, Pernas reenrolled at MSU Denver in the Integrative Health Care Program.
“The Integrative Health Care Program is so diverse in how students learn in regards to health care,” Pernas said. Traditional core subjects such as Biology and Chemistry are combined with topics such as Ayurvedic medicine and herbalism. “The program gives you a wide perspective on how to approach health care in a holistic way.”
Pernas served as a teaching assistant in the program for three years. She also pushed for change in the local health care landscape. She testified before the Colorado House and Senate, sharing her experiences with systemic health barriers in support of the Colorado Building Families Act. The bill became law, ensuring access to fertility services under private insurance in Colorado — something she had been denied during her cancer treatment.
“I got to share my story, which was a powerful and humbling experience in such a space,” Pernas said. She also witnessed doctors advocating for change, something she admired greatly. “Advocacy is a priority and passion of mine in my desire to pursue medicine,” she said.
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Pernas continued her advocacy work in 2023, participating in a documentary by a group called Speak Our Minds, which is dedicated to alleviating youth mental-health crises. She was later invited to speak at the Russell Senate Building in Washington, D.C., to talk with senators about mental-health issues facing youths and young adults in Colorado and beyond.
Pernas also hosted a fundraising campaign for Cancer for College, a charity providing scholarships for cancer survivors. Her efforts netted $9,000 in donations.
With a keen interest in tackling health disparities and being a voice for change in health care policy, Pernas has her sights set on a career in integrative medicine. And despite her challenging journey, she’s energized to make positive change.
“One of the biggest lessons I received was resilience,” she said. “There is immense power in using your perceived barriers as a catalyst for change.”
