Richard Suarez, MS4 FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Broken and scattered
These pieces lay,
One, on top of another.
Monochromatic in appearance, yet,
Their forms are unique to them.
Each piece holds a story.
People see these slabs of
Crumbling cement and stone and rocks
And think nothing, but
Despair.
People see this broken rubble
And see nothing, but
Themselves.
They see their lives,
Their dreams,
Their beings in these fragmented bodies
Because to them, they emphasize
Their own loss and suffering.
But if they were to look closer,
Hope persists.
Flowers hang in the wake of the
Ashes and destruction.
Each fallen object
Offers another support.
What people do not see is that
In order to be built up again,
They must lean on others
To be who they are or who they were.
They must take the chance and
Reach.
From the rubble,
They will rise to be
Anew.
About the Author: Richard Suarez received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida International University (FIU). He completed his Juris Master’s in Health Care Regulation from the Florida State University College of Law, where he acquired knowledge and experience concerning the legal and regulatory framework impacting medicine. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) as part of the Class of 2024. Throughout his academic career, Richard has strived to better his community. He has engaged in outreach programs focused on STD education in Miami-Dade and completed research in HIV therapy. He has also organized art auctions through the Mammography Art Initiative at FIU HWCOM, funding the fight against breast cancer health disparities within the Miami-Dade community. Richard has presented at numerous research conferences, such as the LMSA PODER 2023 Symposium, the 15th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law, and the 8th Annual International Neurology and Brain Disorders Conference, among others. He has also earned various honors including Neurology Student of the Year, and the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in 2021 and 2022 and is an inducted member of Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Overall, Richard continues to push himself to become a well-rounded physician in the future.
About the Work: "From the Rubble" aims to encourage self-reflection. We often look at the world, or ourselves, and see nothing, but broken pieces. There is a tendency to look at our failures and let them define us. However, if we just take the time to look within, and truly see ourselves, we can find the hope that exists and the successes that are there. This is true, too, for the world. Despite all the many horrible events, we are reminded of the kindness, empathy and support from all those around us.
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