The American Society for Cytotechnology has named Daemen alum Roberto Zambrano its 2021 “Rookie of the Year.”
Zambrano, as a Daemen student
Currently employed at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Zambrano graduated in 2018 from Daemen with a master’s degree in cytotechnology and in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Zambrano was chosen for the award, in part, based on a 2020 trip he organized to his native country of Ecuador, where he and a team of cytologists performed cervical screening in underprivileged areas.
“In my country, cytotechnology does not really exist as a profession, and the lack of up-to-date laboratory techniques and facilities creates a great need for screenings,” said Zambrano. “Many women in these communities had never had a screening of this kind that can catch cancer or lesions early—and potentially prevent something much worse.”
“I hope to organize another trip soon,” he added. “There’s a real need and opportunity to improve health care access.”
As a Daemen student, Zambrano was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a recipient of the International Student Excellence in Leadership Award, and earned recognition for his academic achievement while a member of the men’s tennis team.
In recent years, Zambrano has volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen in Buffalo and has worked as a construction volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.