Paths to an MD with Pre-Meds Vanessa Peña-Garcia, Erick Leyva Bedolla, and Aisli Valencia

Dr. Zoila D. Escobar grew from a young woman who struggled to read to serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the country's largest federally qualified health center. Listen to part two of our interview with Dr. Escobar as she discusses her values, inspiration, challenges as a woman leader, and how she leads. 

Growing up undocumented alongside four sisters, Dr. Zoila D. Escobar says she was not meant to attend school. All of her sisters excelled in school with ease, but she struggled to read. Later as an adult, she was diagnosed with dyslexia and read her first book – cover to cover – at 19. By age 42, she received her BA, and at 52, she earned her master's degree; last year, she earned her doctorate, all while juggling full-time work and parenthood. Join us as Dr. Escobar shares how she persevered to earn her education and what led her to become one of AltaMed's executive leaders and the President of the AltaMed Foundation.

Sometimes, finding your passion does not always follow a linear path. Dr. Daniel Diaz knows this from experience firsthand. Before pursuing medicine, he thought he might become a mechanical engineer or a physical therapist. However, in this episode we learn that not succeeding is not the same thing as failing. With a lifelong interest in sports and a commitment to his community, Dr. Diaz eventually found his true calling in sports medicine. His passion and enthusiasm for this specialty is evident as he paves the road for an increase in sports medicine integration at federally qualified health centers. Through his leadership, AltaMed now has a new ACGME-accredited fellowship that will build a pipeline training more sports medicine physicians committed to helping underserved patients. If you are interested in learning more about AltaMed’s new Sports Medicine Fellowship, email us at [email protected]. Click here to view this episode's transcript.

MD, PhD or MPH, porque no los tres? Meet Dr. Marie Flores, a double doctora (physician researcher) committed to bridging public health and medicine. After being denied entrance to medical school, Dr. Flores refocused her efforts to earn an MPH and PhD in epidemiology at UCLA. As a person who uses a wheelchair, many doubted her, but she proved that her disability is an asset to being an outstanding physician. Listen in as she shares her experiences and the advice she gives to anyone questioning their pre-health path. Click here to view this episode's transcript. 

When Berenice Nunez Constant started her career in healthcare, she thought she was going to be an ultrasound technician. In staying true to herself and her passion for uplifting the Latinx community, the opportunities she pursued led Berenice to a career in healthcare administration and policy. Now, she is the Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Civic Engagement at AltaMed Health Services where she works closely with Lizette Escobedo, Associate Vice President of Civic Engagement & Advocacy to lead the successful “My Vote, My Health” campaign. Find out what civic engagement has to do with health equity as Berenice and Lizette share their journeys and speak on the intersection of health and advocacy.  For more information on how to get involved in this election season, visit myvotemyhealth.org or mivotomisalud.org.

Less than six percent of US-based physicians are Latino/a. Necesitamos mas – culturally competent care is critical to health equity. Dr. Cesar Padilla and Dr. Michael Galvez are committed to changing these numbers. As first-gen students and community college alums, they recognize the power of mentorship and pipeline programs. Take a listen as they share their path as physicians, their thoughts on the future of medicine, and why they created National Latina/o Physician Day. The first ever National Latina/o Physician Day is being held October 1st. Visit www.nationallatinaphysicianday.com or www.nationallatinophysicianday.com for more information. 

In the final half of our interview with Dr. Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth, , PhD, MSN, RN, PHN, we deep dive into her research. From provider wellness and burnout to patients’ lived experiences, these are all critical factors in health outcomes. Adrienne explores how our biases carry into our work and how we can flip the switch on how we interpret cultural norms that may look negative but are rooted in survival.

Dr. Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth, PhD, MSN, RN, PHN, is a nurse, researcher, activist, and artist combining her passions to eliminate health disparities. Adrienne learned of an opportunity to earn an LVN degree while cleaning hospitals. Competing with over 6,000 other applicants, she was selected for the program, sparking her motivation to pursue a career as a nurse scholar. In this special two-part episode, she shares how her hardships and experiences with murals motivated her to pursue her career in healthcare.

Our patients’ life experiences are extraordinary, not average. And so are the lives of a pre-med. They do not fit neatly within the course requirements of a four-year or five-year-and-more undergraduate degree. Vanessa Peña-Garcia, Erick Leyva Bedolla, and Aisli Valencia are all working professionals in a different phase on their path to medical school. The pre-meds discuss it all - from the pressure of perfection, gratitude for the family who’ve come before them, and overcoming doubt.

Finding common ground and connecting with patients while working to destigmatize mental health issues is a tall order. Add to that the unique concerns communities of color have regarding mental health issues, and the task becomes even more daunting. The solution, according to psychiatrist and primary care provider Dr. Christine Kho, is more empathy. In this episode, Dr. Kho discusses incorporating cultural humility into patient care. She dives into the need for self-reflection, especially in terms of race and ethnic identity, and how this work propelled her into her career.