Rubén’s Personal Statement

I grew up in rural Guanajuato, Mexico, the oldest of six children. My parents were farmers and relied on all of us to help with raising and caring for livestock, fertilizing crops, and cleaning up the fields after harvest. I remember driving the tractor when I was eleven and my small body could barely reach the clutch and pedals. When I was young, I outgrew my work shoes and was forced to use my only pair of school shoes for farm work, which included the dirty work of cleaning out animal stalls. Despite diligently scrubbing them every evening after my chores were done, my classmates at school noticed and teased me. Still, I was determined to continue to go to school and do well so that I could create a better future for myself and my family, dirty shoes and all. Later, my two-year-old sister became severely ill with a cough and fever. My parents took her to the local hospital where she was found to have pneumonia and was hospitalized. The doctor who treated her showed great care and empathy for my sister and parents, but there was nothing she could do to ease the financial stress of the situation. My parents had to borrow money from a relative and it took years to repay that debt. My siblings and I were overjoyed the day we saw my parents driving back home with my sister in my mother’s arms. She finished her recovery at home and thankfully returned to full health. Seeing how a caring physician and medical treatments could save my sister’s life planted the seed of my desire to become a physician, and my commitment to getting the education necessary to do so was strengthened.

I met “Vero” while tabling at an event for Esperanza Care, a community program that helps provide free medical care for low-income undocumented immigrants. She had immigrated to the US from Mexico at a young age and been working in the fields for twenty years, living in a rented room and sending what money she could to her mother back home. She did not have medical insurance and had not seen a doctor in decades. She explained that she had been experiencing abdominal pain and had been trying herbal remedies recommended by a local “curandero” (traditional healer). Unfortunately, nothing she tried had worked and she experienced pain on a daily basis. Thanks to Esperanza Care, she was able to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician who referred her to a urologist for a bladder condition. She eventually had a surgical procedure which corrected her condition and alleviated her pain. She became one of the program’s leading advocates, sharing her story at fundraising events and referring family members, coworkers, and neighbors to the program. Vero is one of countless farm workers in California who lack access to basic medical care and experienced years of needless suffering. Having grown up in a farm worker family and having experienced the financial hardships that accompany that life, I sympathize with the plight of Vero and those like her. Her story motivates me to become a physician who provides access to high-quality medical care so that people like Vero can live their healthiest lives.

When I was working as a medical assistant at a clinic in the rural town of Gonzales, an older gentleman named “Alonzo” came to see his primary care physician after having surgery. It was a busy rainy day, and I was running behind rooming patients. I called Alonzo back to the exam room and began checking his vital signs. I asked him in Spanish, “What’s the reason for your visit?” He was sweaty and seemed reluctant to make eye contact, so I attempted to make small talk and help him relax. I mentioned that I remembered the beauty of the crystal green mountains in Guanajuato after the rain and how I enjoyed going outside to smell the freshly wet soil. Although Alonzo was wearing a mask, I immediately saw him smile and his eyes light up. I asked him where he was from. "I'm from the most beautiful ranch in Jalisco, a mountainous place hiding houses among trees, where children discover nature. Sadly, I left looking for a better future." We continued chatting and each shared a few fond memories of Mexico. I finished checking him in and told him the physician would be in shortly. Three months later, he was back in the clinic and the front desk notified me that he was requesting me as his MA. I brought him back again and he immediately began making friendly banter. "Are you going to Mexico this year?" he asked. I regretfully told him I could not go due to work, but we continued to chat about his upcoming travel, rodeos, and fiestas. As I finished up, he looked me in the eye and said, "You know, I feel more comfortable coming here." His words warmed my heart and caused me to appreciate how my minor part in his medical care that day helped him have a more positive experience. It helped me to reflect on how much greater an impact I could have on patients like Alonzo as their physician, and strengthened my resolve to continue on my path toward medical school.

I seek to use my unique life experiences, cultural understanding, and linguistic skills to become a physician who serves patients like my sister, Vero, Alonzo, and many more. I hope to help uplift communities who have historically been forgotten.

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