Inside LDI: Spotlight on Denise Ocampo
Inside LDI takes a closer look at the emerging physician leaders shaping the future of medicine through the AMA Foundation’s Leadership Development Institute.
Denise Ocampo is a third-year medical student at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine with professional aspirations in cardiology. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science, with a minor in chemistry, from Northern Arizona University, where she received the President’s Prize, the university’s highest undergraduate honor.
Denise Ocampo at the 2025 AMA Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates.
Denise has demonstrated a strong commitment to advocacy and leadership throughout her medical training. She currently serves as a regional alternate delegate and Vice Chair of the Committee on Health Justice within the AMA Medical Student Section, and she is a member of the board of directors for the Medical Organization for Latino Advancement. As vice president of her Latino Medical Student Association chapter, Denise focused on initiatives aimed at improving access to care for communities that have historically faced barriers within the health care system.
Through her participation in the AMA Foundation’s Leadership Development Institute, Denise is working to strengthen her advocacy and policy skills while learning from experienced physician leaders.
“My goals for this program include learning effective strategies from veteran physicians to advance the topics I care about.”
A first-generation medical student, Denise views the LDI as a meaningful opportunity to grow as both a clinician and advocate. “The mentorship I receive through the Leadership Development Institute is unique and something I cannot get anywhere else,” she said. “I am excited for the opportunities the LDI will bring.”
Looking ahead, Denise plans to pursue internal medicine with the goal of specializing in cardiology and practicing in a community-based setting. She hopes to become a physician who is well equipped to care for patients while engaging thoughtfully in advocacy efforts that advance the profession.