Michael Espinosa

Alumni Spotlight

LEAP Academy Class of 2010

Michael Espinosa was born and raised in the city of Camden, where he attended the LEAP Academy University Charter School. He was inspired to pursue a career in the field of medicine after undergoing a medical procedure on his leg as a young child after a severe car accident. The accident turned out to be a fortuitous moment because it helped Michael discover his passion for the medical field. As a high school student at LEAP Academy, Michael was introduced to higher education through dual-enrollment coursework at Rutgers University-Camden, which would later become his top choice institution. Michael enrolled at Rutgers University-Camden in Fall 2010 with the support of the Alfredo Santiago Endowment Fund Scholarship, after considering acceptances to a number of institutions. While at Rutgers University-Camden, Michael studied Nursing and had the opportunity to study public health while visiting Cuba, Brazil, and Bolivia through study-abroad programs. These experiences solidified his commitment to the field of medicine, and upon returning he took a full-time position as a Nurse in the Vascular & Plastic Surgery Unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to being passionate about the field of Nursing, Michael is also an avid photographer and world traveler, and recently purchased his first home here in the city of Camden. Michael is a proud LEAP alum and Camden city resident, and he is dedicated to finding ways to inspire youth to pursue their passions.