Interconnected Individuals

    After my first trip to La Ciudad de Esperanza in 2025, it was bittersweet saying goodbye to all the friendly and supportive faces after such a quick yet impactful week. So I am forever grateful for the opportunity to return a year later with not just more experience but also more direction toward becoming the physician I want to be. From the first moment I entered this program, I truly witnessed how healthcare is interconnected, which is difficult in a field where there appears to be so much disconnect and miscommunication, especially in patient care. Serving others does not mean each profession assuming that a patient’s care ends the moment they leave their clinic/facility. Rather, it necessitates a community and long-term commitment to combine these experiences and support each person’s entire wellbeing. This is my why for returning to Ciudad.

     Each person brings an essential skill set of unique experiences and knowledge to the table that is best utilized through collaboration. This was more noticeable than ever today at clinic when we helped fit some prosthetic legs for a young girl, Sofia. There she was walking across the room as everyone’s faces lit up with joy. Each step she took rung with the contribution of everyone who helped make it possible. To name just a few, Dr. Lauri for performing her pediatric appointments, Drs. Deb, Alysa, and Peggy for their varied knowledge in physical therapy, Matt for his meticulous engineering of the prosthetics, JoAnn for refining and fine tweaking them, the endless support of her family, and especially Sofia for her resilience and strength throughout this continuous process. Only through this long-term collaboration can we empower patients and each other to the best of our ability. I realize that my niche in healthcare is to help foster this welcoming environment.

     I know now that leaving Ciudad does not mean saying goodbye, but rather it opens up new opportunities and avenues to stay connected with the community members and their ever-changing experiences because life continues for everyone even when we’re thousands of miles away. There is beauty in every individual that we can learn from.

-John Nguyen