Fortaleza
Awards Recognition
We extend our deepest gratitude to all the authors, artists, and contributors who poured their time, talent, and heart into this year’s submissions. Your work embodies the spirit of fortaleza and community that defines our journal.
We are proud to formally recognize the following pieces for their exceptional craftsmanship and impact.
Awards for Art
1st Place:
Adventures of The Bici Guy
(self portrait)
By: Juan Antonio Valadez, DO
An excerpt from art description: "The bici was more than just a way to get around—it was freedom, a way to elude the gangs and threats that loomed over the neighborhood, to carve my own path through streets that didn’t always feel safe."
2nd Place:
La Resiliencia de la Tortuga Marina
By: Anibal Mora
An exercept from art description: "Just as sea turtles embark on arduous migrations, facing countless obstacles before returning home to their family, this piece serves as a symbol of endurance and renewal."
3rd Place:
A Glimpse Into Resilience: La Romana, 2023
By: Amina Latif
An excerpt from art description: "Taken during my 2023 medical mission trip, these images are a window into the lives of those living in the Bateys, where sugar cane fields stretch endlessly and define the rhythms of existence."
Awards for Poetry
1st Place:
Olas Picados
By: Ariana Johnson
From the author: "When I visited a Cuban photography exhibition, it deeply resonated with me. One image, capturing someone mid-air as they leaped from the Malecón, stirred a wave of emotions. Was it a carefree dive to escape the summer heat, a playful dare, or a powerful symbol of longing—the hopes of many Cubans who dream of leaving their beloved island in search of a better future? The layers within that single moment reflected the complexity of migration, a theme that has shaped my perspective and the stories of those I hold close, inspiring the poem."
2nd Place:
El Peso de Los Libros y Mi Alma
By: Leslie Corona
From the author: "The journey in medicine is long and challenging, but truly rewarding. I hope to inspire others to express their emotions through writing. I’m sharing with you a collection of poems that reflect a year of struggle—a journey where writing helped me process and cope with my emotions."
3rd Place:
Irreconocible
From the author: "This poem is inspired by the song 'Querida Yo,' performed by Yami Safdie and Camilo. It serves as a reminder of how far I’ve come on my journey to becoming a physician. Although there may be setbacks and things don't always go as planned, I am confident in my ability to overcome challenges and ultimately achieve my goal of becoming a doctor."
Awards for Written Works:
Our Foundations
By: Anonymous
An excerpt from the work: "Texas was all I knew and I felt proud of it, I would constantly exclaim, “I’m from Texas” with a big smile and this morning was no different. Immediately after saying these words, I heard a loud noise from the kitchen. Grandma rushed into the dining room with a snide look and sharply said, "No tu naciste en Mexico. No eres Americano! Eres Mexicano.""
An excerpt from the work: "I haven't been open about my story, but seeing what's happening in the news right now, I want to be a voice for those immigrants who are going through these same hardships and don't know what to do. There is always a way. It all started at the weight of six months."
3rd Place:
Racing Thoughts
By: Claudia Pedreira
An excerpt from the work: "But if there’s one thing that keeps me going, it’s the drive to create change, not just for myself, but for others. To rewrite my parents’ story and build my own."
Awards for Written Works:
In the Field
1st Place:
Language Barriers: The Responsibility of the Patient or Provider?
By: Alfredo Palacios
Language Barriers: The Responsibility of the Patient or the Provider?, is an opinion piece that discusses the critical role of communication in medical practice, particularly addressing the challenges posed by language barriers between healthcare providers and patients. The author highlights the risks associated with relying on untrained "ad hoc" interpreters and the emotional burden placed on them when conveying sensitive medical information. The piece argues that as the Latino population in the U.S. continues to grow, learning Spanish is becoming a necessity for healthcare providers and emphasizes the shared responsibility of both patients and physicians in overcoming language barriers to provide adequate and component healthcare.
2nd Place:
The Hidden Voices of Medicine: Championing Health Equity through Social Determinants
By: Giovanni Mella-Velazquez
The Hidden Voices of Medicine: Championing Health Equity through Social Determinants highlights the importance of recognizing historically marginalized medical pioneers and their contributions to modern healthcare. I describe an initiative at the Emory University School of Medicine, where students renamed the school’s four societies after groundbreaking figures: Dr. Luella Klein, Dr. Rebecca Crumpler, Dr. Hamilton Holmes, and Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías. I emphasize Dr. Rodríguez Trías’s remarkable career, detailing her advocacy for health equity, neonatal care, and reproductive rights, including her role in fighting against forced sterilization policies. I underscore the intersection of medicine and social justice, illustrating how systemic inequities influence healthcare outcomes. I call for future physicians to engage in activism, leadership, and culturally informed medical practices to continue advancing health equity.
3rd Place:
Health Equity: A Game Rigged from the Start
By: Miranda Hernandez
I wrote this opinion piece after being frustrated with some comments that I have heard about patients and how they’ve chosen to handle their own health. While it is reasonable for us to expect patients to take control of their health, there has always been factors out of their control that we don’t always consider in the moment. I hope this piece will help others have an image of the short stick in their head as they approach patients coming from complex situations.
Awards for Research
1st Place:
English Proficiency and its Effects on Healthcare Perception and Quality in a Student-Run Clinic
By: Alfredo Palacios
A survey study administered to Spanish-speaking patients at a student-run clinic located in Arlington, TX in order to gauge the degree of trust Spanish speaking patients had in the American healthcare system while also gathering their opinions on the best/preferred form of interpretation during visits with non-Spanish-speaking providers.
2nd Place:
Healthcare Resources and Unmet Needs Among Gender Minorities in Puerto Rico
By: Marin Rodriguez et al.
Unpublished, mixed methods, qualitative research article (data acquired and analyzed by undergraduate and medical students under supervision of a undergrad research program director and university faculty) about the experiences of non-cis individuals (aka gender minorities/gender power minorities) in the US territory of Puerto Rico.
By: Edgar Cedeno and Henry Herrera
Our article examines the current challenges in increasing Hispanic representation in medicine, with a particular focus on the pipeline from medical school to residency, and should be in favor of increasing diversity in medicine. We aim to highlight the barriers that Hispanic students and residents face and to provide actionable insights for the medical community to better support these individuals.