Who would think that an envelope could change the destiny of several young people who on Friday found out which residency program they were accepted into.
“I’m going to Columbia, and that was my ‘first choice,’ I’m very, very grateful,” said Stephanie Peña, medical student, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
“We stayed in New York,†added Yhan Colón Ibán, also a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Most of his medical careers took place during the pandemic, which has influenced his formative path of wanting to help his community.
“I want to be a family doctor because I want to be the first person that patients can see and talk to, converse with and also help them navigate this system that is very difficult,†Peña added.
“One of the things is that only 5% of general surgeons in the United States identify as Hispanic and compared to the population, which is 20% who identify as Hispanic, because one wanted to contribute to the Latino representation in this specialty , but I am also fascinated by surgery and the operating room,” said Colón Ibán.
Both students are the first in their families to become doctors and have overcome many obstacles on their path to medicine.
“This trajectory was very very difficult, having parents who are Dominican immigrants and who did not know how to navigate the education system, so I am very proud to be able to be what I am today,” said Peña.
“I know that sometimes it is difficult when you don’t see someone who looks like you, in positions that we would like to have, but you should only take that as motivation,” said Colón Ibán.
And of course… the proud mothers could not contain their joy and as they say colloquially, their hearts could not hold their chests.
“Thank God, I have no words… that I am very proud of her, that I adore her and I love her,” said Cecilia Concepción, Stephanie’s mother.
“I love him with my soul and we are more than proud, our family, more than proud and he represents us all in one way or another,” said Mery Iban, Yhan’s mother.
Both Yhan and Stephanie will do their residency here in New York City and in one of those their next doctors who will speak to them in Spanish.
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2024-03-15 20:16:00
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