When Angelo Castillo Victor joined the Brown University Health Mentoring Program, managed by the Brown University Community Health Institute, he already knew what interested him most: the human heart. Through the program, Brown University Health employees volunteer to mentor local high school students who are considering careers in healthcare. The commitment is simple but meaningful: meet at least once a month during the student’s junior and senior years, and help them think through school, career goals, and the next steps ahead.
A pairing with Kwesi Lillard, MD, as part of the Brown University Health Mentoring program, gave Angelo Castillo Victor guidance, confidence, and a lasting connection with someone who helped him see what his future could look like.
Then a junior at Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex in Providence, Castillo Victor had spent years reading about cardiology and filling notebooks with sketches and notes about how the heart works. When he applied to the Mentoring Program, he had one request.
“I asked if there was any way I could be matched with a cardiologist,” he recalled.
The Brown University Health Community Health Institute paired him with Kwesi Lillard, MD, a pediatric cardiology fellow at Hasbro Children's. What followed was two years of conversations, guidance, and experiences that helped Castillo Victor better understand what a future in medicine might look like.
Through the program, Lillard introduced Castillo Victor to physicians and staff across the Brown University Health system and gave him firsthand exposure to clinical environments. Castillo Victor observed procedures, spent time in hospital settings, and learned about the many educational and career paths available in healthcare.
“It confirmed for me that this is what I want to do,” Castillo Victor said. “I got to see things and meet people I never would have met otherwise.”
For Lillard, one of the most rewarding parts of the relationship was seeing Castillo Victor's curiosity and drive.
“From the beginning, Angelo was incredibly engaged,” said Lillard. “He asked thoughtful questions and took advantage of every opportunity. It was exciting to connect him with experiences that could help him explore his interests.”
Today, Castillo Victor is preparing to begin college and continue pursuing a career in medicine.
Their conversations extended far beyond healthcare careers.
During their mentoring sessions, Castillo Victor and Lillard discussed college plans, navigating life after high school, and the challenges that come with being more independent. Over time, their mentoring match evolved into a meaningful relationship built on trust and mutual respect.
"It wasn't just mentor and mentee," Castillo Victor said. "He became someone I could go to for advice."
Lillard helped Castillo Victor think through college decisions and other milestones as he prepared for adulthood. The relationship became an example of what can happen when mentors and students fully invest in the experience.
"It's only through this program that I was exposed to so many different people and opportunities," Castillo Victor said. "It showed me what was possible."
Ana Almeida-DoRosário, Community Health Institute community outreach coordinator, says the Mentoring Program helps students explore careers while building connections that can have a lasting impact.
"Mentors provide guidance, encouragement, and exposure to opportunities that students may not otherwise have access to," she said. "The relationships they build can help students gain confidence as they prepare for their future."
For Lillard, the experience also reinforced how meaningful a small investment of time can be.
"Something that may seem relatively small to us can be enormously meaningful to a student," he said.
As Castillo Victor begins the next chapter of his education, he and Lillard know the relationship they built through the Mentoring Program will continue beyond graduation.
Learn more about the Brown University Health Mentoring program and other youth programs
