Associate Professor at Dell Medical School at UTAustin

LatinX/Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Cis-Female, hetero, Physician, Educator, Christian

My parents inspired in my a sense of service toward fellow humans. I have always been interested in children with different abilities. I wanted to be of service to families and patients when they were in need and navigate difficult waters alongside.

There have been challenging moments in my medicine path, yet I have never thought of a different path for myself. The beauty of being able to discover pediatric rehabilitation was that I was able to find my ikigai (a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living) through it. The ability to be alongside families and patients in the moments that they need it the most and provide recommendations toward improvements in function, access and inclusion beyond the hospital, allows me to connect with them and establish long-term relationships. These relationships are with patients and families, but also with amazing team members. When I see my patients able to do something that they always thought that they were not going to be able to do or experience ever again after a devastating condition, illness or trauma, fills my heart and makes it worthwhile.

Physiatrists are not just experts rehab medicine, but we also become experts in system-based practices and bringing the biopsychosocial model into our daily practices. We should be driving forces to not only think of access, in terms of mobility, but also access to interventions and services to improve our systems, to be local advocates, to advance equity.

Advance in local leadership in medical school and healthcare system to advocate for accessible and inclusive post-acute services and habilitation programs that support children with disabilities become adults.

Twitter

Instagram