We started with basics like handwashing, medical terminology and by the second year, I was learning anatomy and physiology. I was exposed to maternal health, forensics, and venipuncture through my elective courses. During my senior year, I had the chance to complete clinical rotations and get a peek at life in medicine in specialties like emergency medicine, ICU care, oncology, and pediatrics. With these experiences under my belt, I graduated with the confidence and security of knowing that medicine was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Back in Harlingen, there was far less organization: patients would often waltz around the Emergency Department, and medical care was often provided without records because of their uninsured status. Patients would come in regularly to get emergency treatment for hyperkalemia because they had advanced diabetes and couldn’t get the dialysis they needed. I saw some cases of very advanced syphilis even though nowadays it’s a quick fix with just penicillin. One time, a woman arrived at the ER, barely alive, and fully soaked after crossing the river so that her child could be born here and get American citizenship. It says a lot about the conditions they are running from, that people take such extreme risks just to give their children a slim chance at a better avenue.
These experiences opened my eyes to just how impactful social determinants can be when analyzing the standard of healthcare available to a given population. Now that I am a student at the Long School of Medicine, I understand how my experiences have given me a unique perspective moving forward. I’ll be heading elsewhere for residency where I’m sure I will gain an even broader perspective. But I’ll be back. I want to practice as a bilingual doctor in Bexar county where I hope to be a voice for underserved populations in healthcare.
About Paula Perez:
Paula L Perez is a second-year medical student at UTHSA. She graduated with a B.S. in 2018 from St. Mary’s University and met her fiance through her art endeavors as the upcoming artist in 2017 for San Antonio Contemporary Art Month. They have been together for 4 years and have a happy little family with their dog (Frankie) and cat (Nori). Paula is active on social media (@paulaalorenaa) and uses her voice to not only be a role model for other first-generation students but she is also a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ community, the BLM movement, and mental health.
Story: John Kouam, Photos: Claire Schenken