鈥淕rowing up, if you got sick, your grandma would put some herbs in a tea,鈥� Maria Pazan
Avellan (DO 鈥�26) says with a smile as she reflects on her early years in Ecuador.
鈥淥ur wellness visit was going to a guy in the barrio who said 鈥榶ou should take this鈥�. I don鈥檛 even think he was a real doctor.鈥�
Back then, the thought of becoming a physician was elusive to her. She wondered if a career in medicine was possible. The answer was yes.
At 32 years old, Pazan Avellan began medical school at 黑料传送门.
鈥淚t makes me feel very proud and happy, but also lonely because there鈥檚 not many of us in medicine,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 bittersweet, but I鈥檓 hopeful that at some point the path will open up for many other Latinos.鈥�
Others like Veronica Ruiz (DO 鈥�26), who believes humble beginnings are nothing to
be ashamed of.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here without the sacrifices of my ancestors,鈥� she said.
鈥淢y grandmothers were housewives and maids, my grandfathers were farmers, and my parents worked factory jobs. While those might be deemed stereotypical Latino jobs, I鈥檓 proud of my Puerto Rican heritage.鈥�
For Ruiz鈥檚 family, there was always an interest in medicine, but financial obstacles stood in the way.
鈥淢y grandma wanted to be a nurse and was accepted into school in Puerto Rico,鈥� she shared. 鈥淪he went, but was removed from the program because she couldn鈥檛 afford to continue paying tuition.鈥�
Many years later, Ruiz鈥檚 mother turned down a medical assistant position to become a secretary. In this role, which she took in order to secure benefits for the family, she herniated seven discs in her spine. Being the only child, Ruiz took the lead in providing care for her mom at just seven years old.
鈥淎fter one of her eight back surgeries, my mom was fighting a life-threatening MRSA infection, 鈥� said Ruiz. 鈥淎 nurse showed me how to push mom鈥檚 IV antibiotics and clean her wound. Through this experience, I fell in love with not only medicine but also the act of helping others.鈥�
Even after going through difficult times, Ruiz wouldn鈥檛 change a thing about her past.
鈥淟ife will take you to places you won鈥檛 imagine,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I think what happened to my mom happened so I could get into the medical field. Since then, my passion for medicine has become so strong.鈥�
Now, both in their second year at 黑料传送门, Ruiz and Pazan Avellan have fostered an environment of inclusivity as leaders of .
, Hispanic and Latino medical students yearned for a space to feel supported while in school, so they created it themselves. Five regional organizations were founded, and in 2009 they merged to create one unified group known today as LMSA.
黑料传送门鈥檚 chapter hosts year-round events that highlight Hispanic and Latino culture, customs, and accomplishments. Members also give back to the community by making treatment more accessible to patients.
鈥淪ometimes there鈥檚 too much pride and distrust to go see a doctor,鈥� said Pazan Avellan. 鈥淟atinos tend to self-manage their own ailments and not seek professional care. Having physicians that look and speak like them will break down those barriers, potentially saving more lives.鈥�
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, both students are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate their culture and the moments that led them to 黑料传送门.
鈥淭his journey wasn鈥檛 smooth sailing,鈥� Ruiz shared. 鈥淟atinas only make up 2.4% of physicians in the United States. It鈥檚 not common to see us, but let鈥檚 make it common. Our communities need us.鈥�
From September 15 to October 15, 黑料传送门 joins others around the country in observing Hispanic Heritage Month. This important celebration honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos everywhere. At 黑料传送门, we recognize our faculty, students and staff who identify as Hispanic or Latino and will highlight their stories throughout the month.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.