Posted by: Staff Writer | February 28, 2024 | 2 minutes read |
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was Highlights of the Class of 2024 Ahead of the 2024 Matchday to be held on March 15th. Stay connected with Miller School of Medicine on social media See more student profiles and follow live matchday coverage.
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Medical student Pia Iribarren spoke with Dean Henry Ford, M.D., about how her medical experiences motivated her to change medicine.
Latina immigrants. DACA recipients. The first doctor.
Introducing soon-to-be-graduating medical student Pia Iribarren, MPH, Class of 2024. Pia joined Inside U on the latest episode of his Miami Medicine and shared his medical journey that started at an early age.
“We were uninsured throughout our childhood. My involvement with health care providers was in emergencies,” she said. “As an immigrant family, and especially as an undocumented family, it was always a little bit difficult to find a new system, but that gave me the motivation to want to change it.”
These pivotal moments were the driving force behind Pia's path to medical school, where she seamlessly blended her passions for science, public health, and community advocacy. Despite facing her many challenges along the way, including enrolling in her medical school during a pandemic, her determination brought her to the brink of her graduation. Soon she will be attending Match Day and learning where to complete the next steps in her training, along with other members of her class.
“I think students who want to go into medicine and have had the same experience as me need to know that there are people out there who want to help you,” she said. “I think that's what surprised me the most. Especially here in Miller, there are a lot of people who are willing to help. You just have to look for it and be proactive and it will happen. ”
Watch the latest episode of Inside U Miami Medicine. Learn more about Pia's story and find out how she is changing the future of healthcare, especially for families like hers.
tag: Dean Henry Ford, Inside U Miami Medicine Podcast, Matchday, Matchday 2024, Medical Education Donors and Scholars Luncheon
