my name:  Mariela Martinez

 

 

who am i?

I am a second year medical student at Ponce Health Sciences University. I have a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. My long-standing interest in science led me to conduct summer undergraduate internships at the University of California Berkeley, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the National Institutes of Health-National Cancer Institute. In addition, I was able to present my research at diverse research conferences. Before becoming a medical student, I received a masters in Human Genetics at the University of California Los Angeles. During my time as a graduate student I was also a member of the "Business in Science" group and a member of the Society for the Advancement of Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) national committee. SACNAS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of students underrepresented in science and medical fields.

 

As a medical student at the Ponce Health Sciences University, I have become increasingly interested in preventive medicine and finding ways to improve the quality of life of patients. My current specialty of interest is general surgery but I am still very fascinated by diverse specialties in medicine and open to learning more each day. I am very dedicated, passionate, hardworking, and enthusiastic. On my free time, I enjoy painting, reading, singing, and exploring the beach. 

 

 

why am I part of Legacy LITTLE heroes?

 

I am a part of LITTLE heroes because I want to help empower youth and get them to understand how much of an impact they can have in their communities. I have had previous experiences leading groups of young adults and found that they were very rewarding. I think that the children and young adults will learn more about themselves through experiences than lectures. In addition, I wish to learn from this experience and to grow both as an individual and as a physician in training. I want to help children and young adults to feel that their ideas and actions are crucial to make lasting improvements. 

 

 

what am I doing this summer?

 

I recently returned from the Oregon Health Sciences University located in Portland, Oregon and have been volunteering at the Surgery Department in Saint Lukes Hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

 

 

how did I come across what I'm doing?

 

During my time in Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) I was medical student researcher at the Blood Brain Barrier Program. The project I participated in dealt with evaluating the impact of the ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Program at OHSU. The ThinkFirst injury prevention program has been at OHSU for more than 30 years and focuses on preventing traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries in children and young adults through active awareness presentations and surveys in the Portland area. In addition, I was able to shadow physicians at the Neuro-oncology clinic and at Neurosurgery interventions. Along with my colleague, I was also able to design a new protocol to continue to assess the impact of these injury prevention efforts in the Portland area.

 

Currently, as a volunteer at the Saint Lukes Hospital Surgery Department I am participating in a project to compare the morbidity and mortality of amputations versus vascular surgery in patients that have poor ambulatory capacity and have gangrenes or ulcerations on their lower extremities. The purpose of this study is to assess whether vascular surgery instead of amputation could lead to a better quality of life for these patients. In addition, I have been shadowing surgeons ranging from general surgery to vascular surgery specialists. Both experiences have been extremely rewarding and have cemented my passion for medicine. 

 

 

how did I come across what I'm doing?

 

The OHSU program was via a partnership between the Ponce Health Sciences University. I found out about this experience through one of the biochemisty professors and found that it provided a well rounded experience for the summer.

Link: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/research/centers-institutes/neurology/blood-brain-barrier/about/urm.cfm

 

The Surgery volunteer opportunity was through the Surgery Interest Group. Some of the PHSU alumni that are now in residency at Saint Lukes presented the summer program that was held in June to some students from the Surgery Interest Group. Since I already had commitments at OHSU for June I made arrangements with one of the residents and have been working on his project. 

 

what fascinates me about what I'm doing?

 

What fascinates me about what I am doing is that I can make a long-lasting impact on preventing injuries (OHSU) and improving the standard of care for patients in the future (surgery volunteer project). I am fascinated by medicine because you get the chance to understand the human body in greater depth and also get to apply that knowledge to improve the health others. 

 

 

is there something here that younger students could do?

 

Students could design ways to create awareness in their communities about the leading causes of death or hospitalization among children. Depending on the community chosen, the students can identify the highest risk factors for the age group and conduct prevention efforts. Another possible project that could be implemented is the use of arts such as music and acting to create awareness about current social issues affecting our youth and provide the necessary skills for these children to become active participants on improving awareness about these social issues (such as eating disorders, depression, domestic violence, etc.). 

 

 

what inspires me every day in what I'm doing?

 

What inspires me the most of what I am doing is gaining greater understanding of not only the physical aspects of disease but also the emotional aspects. I have become inspired knowing that what I am learning now will ultimately be used to heal and improve the lives of others. In addition, I have become more aware of the responsibility that we have as medical students to make a positive impact in the communities around us. 

 

 

how have I grown so far after my first year of medical school?

 

I have grown by acknowledging my weaknesses and discovering my strengths. I have learned a lot more to take life one day at a time and to learn from both positive and negative experiences. I have discovered my physical and emotional limits in order to understand when to take time for myself. In addition, I have continued to accept that the differences among people are what make us special. 

 

 

how do I think I will grow after this experience?

 

After these summer experiences I have grown to understand that life is very fragile and that it is a privilege to be able to do even the simplest of activities. I have learned to be more thankful each and every day for my health and the health of those around me. In addition, I have grown very sensitive to the physical and emotional needs of others.