"Andrea Hernandez is a third year medical student at McGovern Medical School at the The University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center. She was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, specifically Mission, Texas, and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a focus in Health Policy and Management. She is currently the LMSA Co-Director Elect for the Southwest-Region. She is passionate about being an advocate for the Latino community and has a passion for bettering their quality of life in all aspects. She hopes to continue her work in health policy with hopes of working on it at a national level."
"Jonathan Guajardo is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Texas Health Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (UTRHRGV SOM). He is Houston raised and graduated from Baylor University Class of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He is the current Southwest LMSA Service Chair and National LMSA Conference Liaison. He plans to pursue a career in Family Medicine and work closely with medical education administration in addition to his social work efforts within the Latino community. Jonathan is an avid gardener and cook who aspires to have a self-sufficient lifestyle one day. His other hobbies include exercising, dancing and reading. He also has a dog, his name is Brodin Praxedis Guajardo III and he’s a very good boy."
"Hola! Mi Nombre es Sonia Hernandez Brown and I'm the LMSA president at NYITCOM Arkansas. I was born in El Salvador but I grew up in Grapevine TX! I graduated from UT Austin (hook'em horns) with a biochemistry degree. During my gap years, I was an MA at a Derm clinic and now I love talking about skin.
I am very lucky to be a part of LMSA because I get to learn from and work with inspiring Latinos who will be the future of medicine. I strongly believe in helping the underserved and giving back to my Latino community and LMSA has such a passion to do that and more! Those are just a few of the many reasons why I joined LMSA and I am very proud to represent this organization." Meet Daphne Joy García Galán, a third year medical student at Texas A&M University College of Medicine and Southwest’s Co-Conference chair.
What inspired you to go into medicine? "I was inspired by duty. A duty to care for my community who experiences firsthand racial disparities and inequalities. A duty to advocate for our patients, for our education, and for our seat at the table. Lastly, I see it as a duty to myself—to fulfill my dream vocation, because truly I cannot see myself doing anything else." Why did you join LMSA? "As a young and impressionable undergraduate, I was invited to the 2012 GLAS Conference in the Rio Grande Valley. During that time, South Texas didn’t have a medical school, and, for the first time, I saw a congregation of Latino Medical Students from all over the States and of different Latin backgrounds. The spirit to make a change, the solidarity, the passion, and level of motivation these young soon-to-be-doctors possessed was (and still is) so impactful and heartfelt to me, there is no doubt in my mind this is where I belong." How do you hope to influence the health professions for the future? "It’s easy to get caught in the grandiosity, the recognition, or the desire to “leave your mark in Medicine”. In my eyes, the true difference I can make in health care is by providing compassionate, respectful, just, and thorough care to each and every single one of my patients, specifically Latino and immigrants." What advice do you have for other students looking to pursue careers in the health professions? "Hey, the only one you need to prove right and the only one you need to compete against is yourself. Determination, tenacity, and hard work will get you where you need to be—believe it! A friend once told me “you can’t complain about having too much on your plate, if the goal was to eat”, so what’s the issue? Make yourself known, network, and be true to your roots." Victor H. Rodriguez is a Mexican-American student from Austin, Texas. He is a 4th year medical student at Texas A&M University College of Medicine.
“What drew me to originally was my curiosity for the sciences. However, I slowly realized how health disparities impacted my community. I want to take action, so I went into public health to learn how to effect change community level and I went into medicine to be able to work with individuals as well. Being a part of LMSA Southwest and LMSA National has given me a support network and family that I needed in medical school. There is something to say about having shared experiences with people in this journey. Moreover, having upperclassmen and doctors connect to people or events that will help you reach your goals has been an invaluable experience. It shows that they want to see you thrive! Not having family in this profession and being lost most times has made medicine difficult, but LMSA changed that and I hope I can do the same for others. Some of the things I enjoy outside of medicine include: spending time with my loved ones, playing the multiple instruments I own, cooking, running, working out, and relaxing watching TV.” |
"Meet Angel Valencia, a second year medical student at UT Southwestern Medical School and one of the co-directors of UTSW's LMSA chapter. He enjoys being a part of LMSA because he is passionate about supporting, celebrating, and connecting Latinos in medicine. Through LMSA he has been connected with others who share an interest in developing increased Latinx leadership in medicine and mentoring future generations of Latinx healthcare providers."
Meet Deanna Gonzalez, LMSA Southwest’s Policy Chair.
What inspired you to go into medicine? "As a Hispanic female raised in a single parent household, I was driven to pursue medicine after witnessing the hardships that my family and community endured due to poverty. Giving back to and serving the community that has shaped who I've become will allow me to help others who live without opportunities for adequate, accessible health care. The ability to practice medicine while also contributing to efforts in advocacy, activism, and community outreach affirmed by decision to pursue medicine." Why did you join LMSA? "I joined LMSA in order to network and collaborate with like-minded individuals who wish to promote the advancement of underrepresented minority students in medicine while also advocating for the rights of Latinx communities." How do you hope to influence the health professions for the future? "I hope to be involved as a faculty member in academia with the goal of creating pipeline programs that promote the success of underrepresented minority students in higher education. Additionally, I would like to be involved in efforts surrounding recruitment and retention in medical education." What advice do you have for other students looking to pursue careers in the health professions? "As an individual who has overcome a great amount of adversity in my life, my best advice would be to dream big regardless of how impossible or difficult it may seem to achieve those dreams. With hard work and dedication, you will find success and opportunities will arise. Never limit yourself, you are powerful, and you have potential." "I am a first-generation Latino student pursuing a career in medicine. I am motivated to serve, be a role model in my community, and embrace diversity to broaden my perspective. As a reputable athlete and student in the state of Colorado, I have develop my own leadership style as well as a sense of cultural awareness that will allow me to provide culturally responsive care for my patients in the future.My goal is to use my role as a physician to serve minority communities, especially Hispanic/Latinx, and introduce them to opportunities in education and preventive healthcare to get closer to obtaining health equity for all.
I want to work for Hispanic/Latinx communities because we face our own challenges. I even believe we face double the challenges because as a Latino we can have the chance to be a citizen in the US, or are in the position as guest in the US. As a guest we are not able to have the same legal opportunities, and leaves my people in a systemic trap to not develop further. I want to be an advocate to my culture in this country, and provide a pathway to increase our numbers in higher-education. LMSA is a heart for me. It is my generational family where I am able to support, enjoy, and share the similar experiences growing as a Hispanic/Latinx student. There is no better feeling being on a journey, and sharing it with another Latin face and mind. Being a part of LMSA is empowering that I am in a position to help my people. 5.8% of Hispanic/Latinx physicians in the US is just a start of a statistic that will continue to increase for a better future for mi gente." "Hola! I am a first generation Mexican-American from San Antonio and a current OMS-II at TCOM. I graduated from Baylor University (Sic 'em!) in 2017, and I took a gap year where I worked as a scribe in the ER. It was during my time in the ER that I realized how the health disparities present in the Latinx community were exacerbated by lack of cultural understanding or language barrier. In the future, I want to work with an underserved population that is predominantly Spanish speaking, to do my part in better serving the Latinx community and ameliorating these health disparities."
"My name is Klarissa Saldivar. I am a second year medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. I was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, right next to the U.S. Mexico border. I graduated from Texas A&M International University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. I am currently the LMSA Southwest region Mentorship Chair and am passionate about helping increase the number of Latinos in the medical field. Upon graduation I plan to return to my hometown to serve the Hispanic community and help diminish healthcare disparities."
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