Wrapping a stethoscope around my neck and setting the contents of a plastic medical kit on the table, my “office” would open for service every morning. I would imitate Dr. Espinoza and her clinical routine in my room while interacting with toys, dolls and younger family members -my regular patients. Today’s schedule: Lulu has a cold, Samantha has the flu and cousin Lupita got hurt while playing outside. When no one else could play, Papi would take a seat in the waiting room for a wellness checkup with six-year-old Dr. Villanueva. Ever since I can remember I have wanted to be a doctor. Through my childhood years and my undergraduate career my ambition to become a doctor has remained and deepened my interest in medicine and health.
All through …show more content…
By the end of my sophomore year, I had declared an Anthropology major and decided that I wanted to continue pursuing the pre-med track. I was not able to continue pre-med as an undergraduate, and maintained by focus in Anthropology through my undergraduate coursework, I was able to complete a pre-medical post baccalaureate program. Through Anthropology’s study of cultural and societal development I was able to form a connection between anthropology and medicine. It became clear to me that doctor and patient relationships required an environment where both feel comfortable enough to speak about symptoms and ask questions regarding health issues. I learned that as a doctor, having the ability to understand and decode a patient’s beliefs, even while they may contradict your own, is a key factor in helping patients making medical decisions. This perspective can be useful to doctors in trying to understand why some people decide to forego allopathic medicine, and resort to home remedies …show more content…
I stayed in two villages: San Miguel and Telembi, which are located in the province of Esmeraldas, an area on the coast. My task for the summer was to analyze the motivations behind choosing specific water sources within those two villages. During my stay in the first village, I became sick and needed to see a doctor. Traveling thirty minutes to see the only doctor available in the area, I arrived to a group of fifty others waiting to be seen. Being used to access to a multitude of doctors and nurses on staff at clinics back home, I was astonished to notice that while the number of patients remained as high if not higher, they all had to be seen by just one person. Because the doctor did not have the medication I needed, I had to travel to another location to pick up my prescriptions, which was something I had never experienced. While my health issue was not severe and easily treatable with prescription drugs, I couldn’t help but think of others with more severe conditions. Not only did they have to wait all day to be seen and diagnosed, but then they had to make a three or four hour trip just to fill their prescriptions. This experience increased my desire to be part of the world of medicine, to try and help alleviate the stress of accessing adequate and affordable health
All through …show more content…
By the end of my sophomore year, I had declared an Anthropology major and decided that I wanted to continue pursuing the pre-med track. I was not able to continue pre-med as an undergraduate, and maintained by focus in Anthropology through my undergraduate coursework, I was able to complete a pre-medical post baccalaureate program. Through Anthropology’s study of cultural and societal development I was able to form a connection between anthropology and medicine. It became clear to me that doctor and patient relationships required an environment where both feel comfortable enough to speak about symptoms and ask questions regarding health issues. I learned that as a doctor, having the ability to understand and decode a patient’s beliefs, even while they may contradict your own, is a key factor in helping patients making medical decisions. This perspective can be useful to doctors in trying to understand why some people decide to forego allopathic medicine, and resort to home remedies …show more content…
I stayed in two villages: San Miguel and Telembi, which are located in the province of Esmeraldas, an area on the coast. My task for the summer was to analyze the motivations behind choosing specific water sources within those two villages. During my stay in the first village, I became sick and needed to see a doctor. Traveling thirty minutes to see the only doctor available in the area, I arrived to a group of fifty others waiting to be seen. Being used to access to a multitude of doctors and nurses on staff at clinics back home, I was astonished to notice that while the number of patients remained as high if not higher, they all had to be seen by just one person. Because the doctor did not have the medication I needed, I had to travel to another location to pick up my prescriptions, which was something I had never experienced. While my health issue was not severe and easily treatable with prescription drugs, I couldn’t help but think of others with more severe conditions. Not only did they have to wait all day to be seen and diagnosed, but then they had to make a three or four hour trip just to fill their prescriptions. This experience increased my desire to be part of the world of medicine, to try and help alleviate the stress of accessing adequate and affordable health