October 15, 2024
Background
Hometown: Wheaton, Ill.
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Graduate: MS in Intensive Medical Sciences, Drexel University College of Medicine
MD program class of 2027
Tell us about yourself. What drew you to medical school?
I was born in Manizales, Colombia, and my family and I moved to the United States when I was five years old. Before immigrating, we lived in a village called Chinchiná. My father is a physician and established and owned a clinic in the neighboring village of Palestina. Some of my earliest and most cherished memories include watching him treat patients there and during medical trips called brigadas de salud, where he and other physicians would provide free and much-needed medical care to the coffee farmers in the mountains.
When we moved to the United States, my father recertified and is now a primary care physician in Illinois. He has been my greatest inspiration, showing me the importance of devoting one’s life to medicine and serving underserved communities. Along with a Christian upbringing and the values my father and my mother instilled in me, my great love for and pride in my Hispanic heritage and community strongly motivated me to go to medical school.
What are your goals as co-president of the College of Medicine chapter of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA)?
As one of the College’s LMSA's Co-Presidents, I have the honor and privilege of working alongside an incredibly passionate and dedicated executive board. My goal is to amplify their voices and help us leave a lasting, positive effect on the Hispanic community and our fellow medical school colleagues. Together, we organize events that address the social determinants of health prevalent in our beloved communities. Through health fairs, educational workshops and outreach initiatives, we aim to provide excellent care while also advocating for greater access and culturally competent care for underrepresented populations.
In addition to serving the community, the goal is to continue to offer a wide range of resources and opportunities for both medical and pre-medical students. These include mentoring, networking, workshops, professional development and other efforts to ensure our members are well-prepared to navigate the challenges of being Hispanic in medicine. By fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, we aim to empower the next generation of Hispanic health care professionals.
What has LMSA done to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in 2024? What does your heritage mean to you as a person and as a medical student?
Thankfully, my esteemed co-president, Vikki Rueda, provided an excellent summary, and one much better than I could provide, of our Hispanic Heritage Month events, so I’ll defer to her interview. You can also find more information on our Instagram page @ducom.lmsa.
My heritage is everything to me and a core part of who I am. I’m incredibly proud and grateful to be a part of such a vibrant culture and one that demonstrates values such as community, family and resilience. With only about six percent of physicians in the U.S. identifying as Hispanic, I see it as both a privilege and a duty to represent my culture in medicine. I feel a strong responsibility to address the unique challenges faced by Hispanic communities, such as language barriers and health disparities.
How will your time in LMSA help you as you move forward in your medical career?
Above all, I am thankful for the experiences and opportunities LMSA offers and for the chance to work alongside such passionate students and physicians. My time working with this fantastic organization has been invaluable in shaping both my professional and personal development. Along with providing me with a deeper understanding of the health care disparities that impact Hispanic and other communities, LMSA has also allowed me to grow as an individual, a student and a leader. As I move forward in my medical career, I will carry the lessons and guidance I’ve received to advocate for equitable health care and serve the Hispanic community.