Little girls with dreams become women with vision. As early as the age of five, my dream has been to serve among the many physicians tending to the medical needs of two of the most important people in my world – my mom and baby brother. Beyond the hospital walls, they were my very first patients and primary responsibility. Caring for them instilled in me the value of hearing the patient first and discerning unspoken requests that all too often went beyond what medicine could heal. Medicine provided my family with the possibility to alter frightening health narratives and will now afford me the opportunity to fulfill my purpose. I am Marjada Faith Tucker – advocate, entrepreneur and aspiring Med Peds Physician.
I was born and raised in an impoverished community riddled with food deserts, underfunded schools, preventable disease, and inadequate access to healthcare. Thus, my perspective as a training clinician is profoundly impacted by the unique struggles of systematically oppressed and medically underserved populations. As a third-year medical student, I came to realize my unique duality—a patient advocate among colleagues and a trusted home-groomed professional among patients. In a community that readily values trust over extensive training, this versatility grounds my desire to contribute to the eradication of healthcare disparities. I seek to empower communities to strive from within. Moreover, I desire training that will prepare me to collaborate with community partners and coordinate adequate care for any presenting patient.
As a Student Founder and CEO, I know that vision, resilience, and resourcefulness are among my greatest assets. These characteristics echo in the extra miles taken to lead educational equity conferences, tackle rigorous community-driven research, and build a thriving business as a full-time student. The same qualities I use as founder and entrepreneur are the same qualities that I am most proud to possess as an applicant. When given an obstacle, I create opportunity. When given an opportunity, I cultivate longevity. I am confident that these characteristics in addition to my courage, capacity and deeply rooted commitment to rural care will enable me to adapt well as a Med Peds physician.
Today, I am a multifaceted woman with a vision that five-year-old me would unequivocally be proud of. I envision leading comprehensive rural care clinics that integrate key components of patient care from social resources to strategic intervention. Ultimately, my ideal practice would encompass cradle to crown care with emphasis on key transitional periods including adolescent and geriatric medicine. I want my patients to be empowered to serve as partners in their care and to feel encouraged to evolve. Med Peds resonates with the essence of who I am—the advocate, entrepreneur, and a budding visionary in medicine.
Follow Marjada’s #JourneyToTheCoat as CEO of Miranda Gizelle.
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Cal LaRoche, a brilliant and dedicated advisor and champion of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, who left us on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.
Born in New York in January 1946, Cal graduated from Central State University in Ohio, where he joined the Eta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. His career spanned decades of leadership and innovation, beginning at the National Security Agency and continuing through key roles at IBM, SkyTel Communications, and The Orkand Corporation.
A visionary entrepreneur, Cal later co-founded DC Ventures and Associates.
His commitment to service was unwavering. Cal chaired the Boards of Trustees at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Norwood School and served with distinction for 15 years on the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. His leadership extended to the Beta Mu, Boulé Foundation Board, where he served as Chair, and to Patients For Affordable Drugs, where he was a founding board member and Treasurer.
An avid golfer and advocate for equity in the sport, Cal co-founded the Pro-Duffer/Carter Foundation Scholarship to promote diversity in golf. A long-time member of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, he was as passionate about creating opportunity as he was about the game itself.
Cal’s legacy is carried on by his beloved family: his mother, Lucille “Gloria” David; his wife, Esperanza, and their sons, CJ and Ethan; his former wife, Cheryl LaRoche; their daughters, Gina LaRoche, Renee LaRoche-Morris, and Danielle LaRoche; six grandchildren; and his siblings. His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering belief in the potential of young people will remain an enduring part of the Ron Brown Scholar community.
We are forever grateful for Cal’s enduring support, leadership, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence, generosity, and deep humanity. He will be deeply missed.
