Fortaleza
Our Foundations
Read about works centered on heritage and culture.
By: Anonymous
1st Place Winner of Our Foundations
An anonymous student's story about their journey into the medical field as an undocumented immigrant.
2nd Place Winner of Our Foundations
Breaking Barriers: A Journey of Resilience and Purpose is my personal account of overcoming cultural and legal challenges as a Venezuelan immigrant Latina striving to become a neurosurgeon. I open up about the cultural and legal obstacles that have defined my journey. The piece weaves together themes of cultural identity, legal challenges, and academic perseverance, highlighting the stark underrepresentation of Latinos in medicine. It portrays how passion, self-advocacy, and the support of mentors can transform hardship into opportunity, and serves as a call for greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field.
By: Claudia Pedreira
3rd Place Winner of Our Foundations
This reflection highlights how often Latino medical students grapple with self-doubt, questioning their worth and ability to succeed. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, to let the weight of expectations consume us. But the most important lesson is learning how to silence those doubts and hold onto our "why" the reason we embarked on this journey in the first place. We are not just doing this for our parents, though their sacrifices are always in our hearts; we are doing it to build a better future for ourselves, our communities, and those who will come after us.
By: Carolina Segura
This is a short story about my journey moving from Mexico to the United States!
By: John Gallagher
This short story describes my journey with the Latino community. It begins simple, with a Spanish textbook, and matures to a group effort to accomplish something bigger. The narrative highlights the importance of an open mind, friendship, courage, teamwork, and solidarity. I am grateful for the lessons these experiences have taught me, and I am hopeful to share many more with "mis amigos" in the future.
By: Alejandro Flores
This short story, "Puentes de Fortaleza: A Journey of Compassion and Resilience," follows the transformative journey of Alejandro Flores, a young pre-med student who witnesses the power of compassionate care in the emergency department. Inspired by his own grandmother’s struggles and the healthcare disparities he encounters, Alejandro's experiences in both clinical settings and underserved communities ignite a deep commitment to addressing inequities in medicine. As he navigates the challenges of medical school, his journey becomes one of personal growth, cultural understanding, and unwavering resilience, illustrating how each challenge shapes him into the physician he aspires to be, one who bridges gaps of language, culture, and empathy.
This essay explores how political instability, natural disasters, and federal disparities have weakened Puerto Rico’s healthcare system. The essay emphasizes the need for systemic innovation by highlighting key points from Puntos Claves by Dr. Jorge Martínez Trabal. It highlights a committed vision from the author with Puerto Rico as a physician-scientist to advocate for and contribute to lasting healthcare reform.
By: Anonymous
Describing the experience of med school.
With the current political state, there have been commitments of some borderline crimes against humanity to our people. Now more than ever, we must remain resilient and united to continue chasing our goals.
Critical reflection on Johanna Crane’s "Scrambling for Africa". The book critiques the power dynamics in academic global health, arguing that the field perpetuates postcolonial inequalities between the Global North and South. She highlights how the discourse and partnerships in global health often favor Northern institutions while marginalizing Southern voices. While her analysis is insightful, it may be overly critical, lacking a balanced perspective on the mutual benefits of global health collaborations.
This short essay explores the idea of using our difficult and unique journeys to help support and heal our patients beyond what medicine can offer. I use my experience with homelessness and an anecdote to hopefully encourage others to share their own journeys more than they think they "should". Overcoming fear around sharing experiences is only helpful to future patients and could bring them closer to where they're going.
“Decisions with Love: Because Every Choice Extends Beyond Ourselves” is a opinion piece exploring the ethical and emotional complexities of life support decisions in medicine. It emphasizes the importance of patient autonomy while acknowledging the profound impact medical choices have on families and loved ones. Through this reflection, I encourage medical students, residents, and physicians to approach these decisions with compassion, clarity, and respect for both the patient and those who will carry their memory forward.
