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When did you join the UTRGV School of Medicine?
December 2017
What brought you here?
I graduated from UTRGV's Legacy Institution, UTHSCSA-RAHC, in Harlingen, Texas. After finishing my advanced studies in Infectious Disease and getting some research training with an MSCI at the University of Utah, I had the chance to return to the RGV. I wanted to make a difference in this community, so I jumped at the opportunity and started working as an Infectious Diseases doctor in Weslaco, Texas. As time went by, I got to work with Internal Medicine residents from the Valley Baptist Medical Center residency program on an elective rotation in Infectious Diseases -- it was amazing. Seeing their personal and professional growth firsthand made me fall in love with academic medicine even more. It's been such a rewarding journey!
What do you enjoy about working in Academic Medicine?
What makes a difference in providing top-notch patient care? Teamwork! When we're all in this together, focusing on academic medicine, our primary goal is to give patients the best care possible. That means working hand-in-hand with residents and learners, which makes patients happier and helps our medical community keep growing and learning. What I love about this experience is how it lets me serve our community, help learners grow, and explore many aspects of medicine. Whether it's giving patients the care they need or teaming up on cool projects, I can't get enough of it. I get to work with an incredible group of people from all backgrounds, making every day exciting and fresh. Plus, I can apply what I know about quality improvement and antibiotic stewardship to various projects and develop new research ideas. The best part? This helps me contribute to better patient care, make the learning experience more meaningful for others, and also grow my knowledge and skills. It's a win-win-win situation!
Why is academic medicine important to our community?
It's so important that we put patients first and make their experience more than just checking off the essential boxes. Sometimes, how we reward patient care doesn't quite match up with what's best for them, and that's something that academic programs are trying to fix. We can do amazing things when we focus on what matters most to patients. We'll be able to make real progress in healthcare and even change lives for the better. Academic programs are all about ensuring we're in tune with patients' needs and wants, so we can go the extra mile to make them feel cared for. The cool thing is that when we put patients at the heart of everything we do, we can make a huge difference in their lives. We can help them get better faster, feel more satisfied with their care, and even push the boundaries of medicine. By staying committed to patient-centered care, we're always looking for ways to improve and make healthcare better for everyone.
How do you spend your free time?
When I'm not working, I love hanging out with my four-year-old daughter, getting lost in a good book, catching a movie, going for walks, or even traveling. I'm a nerd when it comes to my free time—I enjoy learning new stuff like data management skills or figuring out how to use my statistical analysis software in new ways. Plus, I can't help but keep an eye on the latest developments in artificial intelligence, especially regarding how they're being used in healthcare. I love keeping my brain busy!
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