07/03/2025
Palacios, Bolivia ISI 2025 with
“I can’t expect to look or sound like every patient that I serve, but there must be things I can do to make our differences not seem so vast. Dr. Vargas demonstrated this in a small but powerful way during my time shadowing him in clinic. He had taught me a few Quechua phrases for fun, and when a Quechua-speaking patient entered his exam room, he encouraged me to try asking, “How are you?” I did and, although I certainly butchered the pronunciation, I watched the patient break into a smile. She seemed so genuinely excited that I had made the effort to connect with her in her own language. For the rest of the visit, I felt she seemed more comfortable with me, as if that small gesture had established some common ground between us, despite the vast differences in our backgrounds. This experience made me realize that making the effort to learn about a patient’s culture, background, and traditions, however small, can foster a sense of understanding and trust. I hope to carry this forward into my future practice. If a patient shares that they are from Bolivia, I will be able to say that I spent this time there, that I think their country is beautiful, and that the people I met were warm and kind. It certainly isn’t a perfect solution, it won’t guarantee a strong bond with all my future patients, but it’s a powerful reminder that health care is about more than just knowledge and medication - it’s about human connection.” - Medical Student
