Why did you choose to pursue a career in medicine?
Growing up, my sister and I spent a lot of time at the Veteran’s Affairs hospital in Dallas, where my mother worked for more than 20 years. Although I really did not get to see inside the clinics or operating rooms as my mother worked as a secretary in the engineering department, there was a small inspiration from just being in the hospital.
Most importantly, my inspiration to pursue medicine is influenced from witnessing multiple family members battle diseases such as cancer, substance abuse, heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other conditions. As I have continued my education, I have come to understand that some of these chronic illnesses are more prevalent in minorities.
These minority populations face many disparities in health care, such as limited access to health care providers, genetics that predispose them to various illness, and lack of insurance. Therefore, I am inspired to become a physician who is an advocate and a resource to the underserved communities.
Why McGovern Medical School?
There were many reasons that McGovern appealed to me when selecting a medical school. First, it’s an institution that showed diversity was important, from the make-up of the student body, staff, and faculty. This is an aspect that was important to me as I feel that representation is critical for myself as I move forward in my career, and for the patients that I am learning to serve.
Secondly, I feel that learning and working in the Texas Medical Center will offer an abundance of resources and connections. Lastly, from my admission interview and many discussions with current medical students, I felt welcomed and a true sense of belonging.
Why was it important for you to persist into a career in medicine?
It has been important to me to persist on this journey and enter into a career in medicine, because I am needed. Minority physicians are needed to improve patient outcomes in underserved populations, to reestablish patient-physician trust in minority populations, and many more reasons.
I am persisting because I want to guide other minority, low-income, and first-generational pre-health students and encourage them to persist on their journey as well.
What is your ultimate goal for a career in medicine?
My ultimate goal for a career in medicine is to have a balanced career as a great physician who is actively engaged in community service, mentorship, and the education of patients and future physicians.
What emotions are you feeling beginning medical school?
The emotions I feel starting medical school are excitement, gratitude, a slight disbelief, and anxiousness. I’ve worked for this for quite some time, and I am finally in a seat as a medical student!
I’m looking forward to learning an abundance of knowledge that will help me become an excellent physician one day, establishing connections with classmates who will become lifelong friends and colleagues, and most importantly learning to care for the patients.
What motivates you?
I am motivated by remembering my “why.” As I am continuing this journey, I am always thinking about my family members who are counting on me. I am determined to keep going despite difficulty and self-doubt. I want to continue to make them proud by becoming the first physician in my family, and a physician who truly cares to influence change in the lives of patients.
What specialty would you choose if you had to pick now?
If I could pick a medical specialty right now, I would probably choose obstetrics and gynecology. I know that I would like to be in a specialty that allows patient care in the clinic combined with procedures and surgery. Obstetrics and gynecology allows that.
In obstetrics and gynecology, I will get to follow my patients as they experience many milestones. In addition, as light is shed on the rising incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality, I would like to learn and do more to help decrease this outcome.
Lastly, my sister is a L&D nurse, and the idea of potentially working alongside her sounds like a joy and a challenge.
Who is your “shero?”
My “shero” is my mother. My mother, who raised my sister and I as a single parent, is incredibly tenacious. She’s been through many battles, and I have yet to see her waver or give up. Without her, I am certain that I would not have made it this far in my journey.
She’s broken generational barriers as the first in our immediate family to graduate high school, and then to join the Army. Afterwards, she was the first to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Although she stopped short of her educational goals, she paved a path for my sister and me.
She instilled in me the importance to persevere, have faith, and know that God will make a way in any hardship. Most importantly, I know that any battle I am fighting, she stands in my corner.
Read the rest of the stories from the Newest Faces of McGovern Medical School.