As an immigrant, VCOMs mission speaks to who I am. I was born and raised in Colombia in a small rural town where medical care was limited. Then my family and I moved to South Florida, where we were part of the medically underserved population many immigrants find themselves. As a medical student, VCOM’s mission has encouraged me to share my culture and learn from other cultures as well.
Who or what has inspired you while at VCOM?
The students. The way my classmates strive to be the best at what they do is truly admirable. While at VCOM, I met the most resilient and inspiring group of people. We all came to VCOM with one purpose in common, to become physicians, and we knew medical school was going to be an arduous pilgrimage, but the empathetic and caring personalities not only of my classmates but also of the faculty and staff have made this journey a lot easier and enjoyable.
How has the VCOM mission inspired you as a medical student?
As an immigrant, VCOMs mission speaks to who I am. I was born and raised in Colombia in a small rural town where medical care was limited. Then my family and I moved to South Florida, where we were part of the medically underserved population many immigrants find themselves. As a medical student, VCOM’s mission has encouraged me to share my culture and learn from other cultures as well. Thus, as we go on to become physicians, we can better care for our patients and communities from diverse backgrounds.
Why did you choose VCOM?
There are multiple reasons why I chose VCOM as my medical school. First, it is an Osteopathic medical school, which was my priority. Second, during my interview day and other online events I had attended previously, VCOM had the happiest medical students. For me, it was essential to attend a school where I would feel included. Additionally, the faculty and staff seem to be invested in offering the students as much support as needed. Lastly, VCOMs strong commitment to serving its community locally and internationally was another contributing factor.
What do you like to do in your free time?
On a regular basis, I enjoy cooking, watching movies/series, and exercising. Although making time to do these things was hard at the beginning of medical school, I have learned how important and needed it is. During block breaks, I enjoy traveling the world and visiting family. Backpacking with my husband is a hobby we have acquired over the years, and now it is something we must do despite our busy lives. Now in medical school, we aim to schedule our trips during my breaks. Planning these trips motivates me, and it is something I look forward to it also keeps me going when the blocks get challenging and overwhelming.
Are you interested in a particular practice or specialty once you graduate? What has inspired your interest in this specialty?
Before coming to medical school, I worked as a behavioral therapist for kids with difficulty adjusting to societal norms. Thus becoming a pediatrician is what I think I want to do… I say “think” because I know I would like to work with kids, but I feel once we are exposed to other fields during rotations, I will have a better idea.