Gabby Salinas is a three-time cancer survivor, scientist, and devoted healthcare advocate whose life journey is a testament to resilience and community. Originally from Bolivia, Gabby and her family immigrated to the United States in 1996, arriving first in New York and then in Memphis so she could receive life-saving cancer treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. At just seven years old, Gabby faced cancer for the first time. Tragically, shortly after their arrival in 1997, her family experienced a severe accident in which she lost her father. Yet, the Memphis community embraced them, turning a city they had been warned about into a place of warmth and support.

Growing up largely within the halls of St. Jude, Gabby developed a deep love for science, inspired especially by Nobel Prize-winning immunologist Peter Doherty. She pursued a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry at Christian Brothers University and a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky. Her research earned publication by the National Academy of Science, and she has always credited her success to the city that welcomed her.

Gabby firmly believes that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” This principle guided her into community leadership and eventually politics. She became the first Hispanic Chair of the Shelby County Democratic Party, leading it to historic victories in 2022. In November 2024, Gabby was elected to the Tennessee State House, becoming the first Democratic Latina legislator in the state. She serves on the Judiciary and State & Local Committees, advocating fiercely for Medicaid expansion, public school funding, immigrants’ rights, and fair wages.

For Gabby, her journey is about giving back to the city that embraced her family when they arrived speaking no English and facing immense challenges. She wants to ensure that other families, especially immigrant families and those struggling with health inequities, have the support they need. As she often says, “If you don’t have health, you have nothing.” She stands as a beacon of hope and a role model for the Latino community and beyond.