03/30/2026
I knew I wanted to be a doctor when I was in grade school. My baby cousin had run into a cactus, and I remember feeling this responsibility and need to help her; I was pulled to ease her pain however I could. I ran to grab tweezers and started removing the needles one by one, before the adults stepped in.
Fast forward 25 years of school and trainingāyears filled with sacrifice from all anglesā¦long nights studying or on call with little or no sleep, pushing my own basic needs aside more often than I can count. Taking on and coping with overwhelming stress from exam after exam, boards, crazy schedules, being thrown into patient care with the āsee one, do one, teach oneā mentality, all while managing the normal and not so normal life stressors.
Watching friends build their livesāgetting married, having children, buying homesāwhile I was taking on loans, delaying milestones, and putting parts of my life on hold.
So many times I asked myself: is it worth it? All the sacrifice, all the struggle?
And the answer is always, yes.
Because itās the really hard stuffā¦the struggle, the sacrifice, the enduranceā¦that give life its meaning, that makes this path so incredibly fulfilling.
And what Iām most proud of is not just becoming a physician, but creating my own path within medicine. Because medicine is not one single road. It evolves with you. And clarity comes after youāve done the super hard work.
I feel so much freaking pride and gratitude to do what I do, to care for others, to make a deep impact, and to continue shaping a path that aligns with my passion, expertise and who I am.
And today, Iām especially proud of my fellow physicians, who show up every day to heal and change lives.
Happy Doctors Dayā¤ļø