Catalina Castano-Colman
Catalina Castano-Colman is a senior majoring in nutritional sciences with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She is currently a member of the THON Special Interest Organization Apollo and has volunteered with Centre for Volunteers in Medicine, where she experienced the importance of providing high-quality, patient-centered care to serve the local community. After graduating this spring, she plans to enroll in medical school to pursue becoming a family physician.
Catalina has supported THON as a volunteer since THON 2023, and this year she is supporting the mission through the special-interest organization Apollo. Special interest organizations like Apollo support THON throughout the year with fundraisers, events, and community outreach.
“I’ve supported THON since my freshman year, and this year my involvement has evolved through Apollo,” Catalina said. “As a special interest organization, we’re able to support THON beyond the weekend and build lasting connections with the three families we stand alongside throughout their fight against childhood cancer.”
In addition to her work for THON, Catalina further expands her academic experience through undergraduate research at the Diet Assessment Research Center. In this role, she collects dietary intake data by conducting detailed phone interviews with study participants about their food consumption the previous day. This experience allows her to directly apply concepts from her nutrition coursework while gaining valuable research and clinical communication skills that she hopes to use in her future healthcare career.
Catalina has also volunteered at the Centre for Volunteers in Medicine as both a Spanish translator and a phlebotomist, roles that have allowed her to support patients through both communication and hands-on care. Drawing from her own background, she helps create a more welcoming healthcare experience for patients navigating language barriers, while her work as a phlebotomist has strengthened her ability to provide calm, patient-centered care during vulnerable moments.
“Working at the Centre for Volunteers in Medicine has shown me how much trust and reassurance matter in healthcare,” Catalina said. “Being able to connect with patients, whether through language or direct care, has reinforced my desire to become a physician who prioritizes compassion alongside clinical skill.”
Catalina chose to major in nutritional sciences because of her long-standing interest in medicine and a personal curiosity about how food impacts the body beyond calories alone. Growing up as a picky eater and later learning how to navigate how food fuels bodily health sparked her interest in understanding how nutrition influences energy, development, and long-term health. Studying nutritional sciences has allowed her to explore these questions while complementing her aspirations in healthcare by helping her see the broader picture of patient care.
After graduating from Penn State, Catalina hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in family medicine. She is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care and using her background in nutrition to support long-term health and well-being across diverse populations.