San Antonio People Project

Everyone has a story worth telling

The mission of the San Antonio People Project is to share the inspiring stories of the people of San Antonio and bring us closer together as a city, one story at a time.

Why I Chose Surgery - Amita Shah

"During my clinical rotations, I thought “I could do this!” for every specialty but then there was a little thing about each one that made me not commit to it. That was, until I started my surgery rotation."

Why I Chose Neurology - Will Young

"Neurology is weird, and it is unsettling when your loved one stops recognizing you, or doesn’t acknowledge one side of the body, or suddenly can’t talk, or starts seizing."

Between the Lines: The Origins of Auscultations

"Our connection to various marginalized identities tethered us together."

Dr. Ramon Garza III

“First you’re a doctor, then you're a surgeon, and lastly, you're a plastic surgeon”

Dr. Deb Mueller

“We should not distance ourselves from engaging on things we are passionate about. We can affect change through subtle actions to encourage the future to be better. "

Dr. Rick Schilling

“Aspects of medicine have changed the speed at which physicians are required to see patients, but I still believe that giving the patient the time they need and providing compassionate, comprehensive care is the best medicine.”

A Farewell Interview with Janet Li, PA-C

“…looking back, from my experiences even in these last few months, the light will always outshine the dark.”

Dr. Patrick Nguyen: Humanizing Surgeons

“One important aspect of becoming a physician is being able to take care of yourself because that plays a role in being able to care for others.”

Elizabeth Balli Van Sickle: An Advocate for Survivors of Domestic Violence

“As an attorney, my job is to fight for the rights of victims in order to get their life back on track, keep them safe, and to preserve their legal rights.”

Camille McSherry and Jackie Moreno: A Thrivewell Fundraiser

"It is this sort of generosity and community that we feel makes Long a unique medical school."

The Privilege of Voting: Ida Vaziri

“People take voting here as a guarantee when it’s actually a privilege to be able to vote and to know the sanctity of your votes.”

Marina Armendariz, Ph.D

"Diversity and belonging are very important to me and have influenced my career choices with regards to the focus of my research and what I want to teach in the classroom."

Will Young: Letters to a Clinical Student

"You are well on your way to becoming the doctor you have dreamed of becoming, and your experiences as a clinical student will only bring you closer to making that dream a reality."

Claire Schenken: Letters to a Clinical Student

"Listen to your patients, advocate for them, do the work, help out where you can, and enjoy your third year."

Javi Hernandez: Letters to a Clinical Student

"He held my hand so tightly; I’ll never forget his grip."

SAPP New Member: Madeline Neff

“Today, as a senior biology major and community health minor, I can confidently say that attending UTSA was the best decision I could have made."

SAPP New Member: Mallika Kodati

“It wasn’t until college that I started to appreciate my culture as I should… at UTSA, I found people embracing both parts of their identity.”

SAPP New Member: Ashley Mai

“The smell of my pho when it came instantly calmed me. Being a foodie, I knew that even though I was anxious before, I would definitely enjoy all the good, authentic Vietnamese cuisine during my two weeks here.”

Reflections on MLK March 2020

“Looking at this photo reminds me of a simpler time that, in my mind, represented one of the last moments of pre-pandemic normalcy before we were propelled into the current social, political, and economic landscape.” - David Nweke

Rebecca Kate James

“The role of Miss San Antontio is being a role model- setting the standard of what the modern woman is and what the modern woman is capable of.”

Maui Cervantes: Never Count Yourself Out

“Now that I am grown up, I realize how much of an influence both of my parents had on me.”

Dr. Sara Hamilton – A Holistic Approach To Weight Loss

“We don't focus on the number on the scale - we work on why people do what they do and the habits, thoughts, and emotions that influence how they live their lives.”

Unless You Look Up: Surgery and Humanity

“In a slow crescendo, all the pagers in the room started beeping. A father and son were arriving to the trauma bay, the victims of a knife attack.”

Dr. Richard Usatine

“It was very special that I knew that I had made a difference in her life, not just by making a diagnosis or prescribing medicine, but just being there for her."

Carlo Vanz: From B-Cells to Business

“If you’re in a good environment, doing something you like, with good people around you, you’re going to achieve a lot more than you would in a place where you don’t have those things."

“I believe that what’s more effective than any skill that can be taught therapeutically is human connection.”

Lisa Lopez, FNP: A Growth Mindset

“Practice makes perfect is 100% true. You may not be able to do it today, but if you keep practicing, you may be able to do it tomorrow, or the next day after that.”

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LATEST ARTICLES

Stories

Dr. Eddie Hernandez – Empowering His Students Into Future Health Professionals

“All I need are these emails to remind me that what I am doing is working; what I am doing is translating to healthcare providers of tomorrow. I would not change it for the world.”

May 24, 2024 No Comments

Stories

Dr. Chris Crane: Paving His Way in Trauma Critical Care

“If you can sit back and identify something to learn after each experience, that will make you a better physician.”

May 19, 2024 No Comments

Stories

Dr. Occhialini – A Story of Tenacity

“I started reflecting and, to be honest, that was a pretty dark time because it’s like “My career is done, what am I going to do?” But I wasn’t ready mentally to retire. My twin sons were in fifth grade when I had my accident, I wanted to keep working.”

May 9, 2024 No Comments

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