ALUMNI STORIES

Karen Penelope Ibarra, MD FRONTERA 2015

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

The FRONTERA summer internship helped me shape my understanding about health disparities in rural areas and obtain hands on research experience. My research project focused in analyzing the prospective data obtained Diamond’s Children Hospital about children that came in to the Emergency room due to an acute asthma exacerbation. The purpose of my research was to see if there was any ethnic differences in the asthma triggers or parental knowledge in the children that were hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation. The data indicated that the population that was coming in more often with an acute asthma exacerbation were indeed from a minority group or from a low socioeconomic status. Specifically, the population focused around Hispanics and patients on Medicaid. It was also determined that certain triggers were more common among these children hospitalized. Therefore, it is imperative that a culturally appropriate program exists in effort to address asthma education to Hispanic families. Asthma control in families of Hispanic and low socioeconomic status can potentially reduce the number of preventable emergency department visits due to an acute asthma exacerbation.

Furthermore, this experience was beyond meaningful to me because I obtained real hands on experience in research with something that I am highly passionate about. In addition to expanding my knowledge about health disparities, the FRONTERA summer internship offered a unique opportunity to prepare for medical school by obtaining valuable study and test-taking skills. As part of the program, I was able to develop a better understanding of the pathway to medical school.

Katherine Bakke, MD, MPH

FRONTERA

2010

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

FRONTERA provided me with my first experience in public health research when I was a rising-college senior. Although I was new to research, my PI and mentor, Dr. Ana Maria Lopez, encouraged me to take ownership of my project and gave me latitude and resources to be a true leader. Not only did I gain practical skills such as writing IRB applications, liaising with clinic administrators to gather study participants, and basic qualitative analysis know-how, I also gained insight, through site visits to hospitals in Sonora, Mexico and clinics on “the res” (among many others), into the vast, interrelated factors that contribute to Latino health in the southwestern United States and along the MexicanAmerican border. urrently, I am a rising second-year medical student at University of Michigan Medical School pursuing an MD/MPH degree. My time in Tucson was short—only a summer—but the lessons I learned and relationships I gained during my internship continue to have an impact. The bulk of my FRONTERA research involved interviewing patients of the El Rio Community Health Center about their understanding of health education materials used by the clinic. I conducted nearly 100 interviews, and the listening and probing skills I acquired talking with patients in Tucson easily translate to my interactions with patients now as a physician-in-training. I keep in touch with my fellow FRONTERA interns, and consider them friends and colleagues as we move forward in our careers in public health and medicine.

How has the Program experience benefited you now in your current life?

Megan Fah, MD

Border Health Scholar 2012

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

During my time as a Border Health Scholar, I was able to gain unique insight into the health care systems of both the U.S. and Mexico. The program really opened my eyes to health disparities that border populations face, and the mistreatment they experience. Consequently, I was inspired to someday work with underserved populations in effort to close the gap in the medical attention they receive.

How has the program experience benefited you now in your current life?

The program introduced me to a wide array of opportunities in public health. I will be starting my MD/MPH dual degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix this July. My work with the Border Health Scholars program is what sparked my interest in completing a Masters in Public Health. Additionally, the program benefited me by providing talking points about my experiences throughout the medical school interview process. Overall, the Border Health Scholars program made me a more competitive applicant for medical school.

Anna Maria Del Sol Driesen, B.S, MA PMAP-scholar- Medical student

FRONTERA 2019

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

The FRONTERA internship helped me gain a deeper understanding of what border health disparities exist in Arizona today. We visited different rural sites around Arizona, and it helped me realize the need that there is for physicians in these medically underserved areas. This internship also helped me strengthen my research skills by connecting me with a mentor to work on a research project. Alongside my mentor, Dr. Lilah Morris-Wiseman, we worked on a qualitative research study that focused on the importance of prioritizing diversity in the medical field, specifically in general surgery. Dr. Morris-Wiseman and I continued to work together after the internship ended to publish our research findings in the Journal of Surgical Education. I was able to present our research study, “Do General Surgery Residency Program Websites Feature Diversity” at the Association of Program directors in Surgery National Conference in May 2020.

Not only did I gain insight into rural medicine, I also learned how to write a journal article and present it to an audience of health professionals. I gained a deeper insight into what medicine is and the endless possibilities that exist within it.

How has the Program experience benefited you now in your current life?

After the Program ended, I continued to work alongside my mentor, Dr. Lilah Morris-Wiseman on several projects. We published our research findings, “Do General Surgery Residency Program Websites Feature Diversity” and presented at a national conference in May 2020. Due to our research being focused on the importance of prioritizing diversity through surgical residency programs, Dr. Morris-Wiseman invited me to serve on a committee that is updating the University of Arizona’s surgery website. This has been an incredible experience to work alongside different health professionals and focus on how we can attract diverse applicants to the University of Arizona and to surgery. Currently, I am starting the PMAP program at the University of Arizona and completing my year of graduate school in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. I am incredibly excited to start medical school in 2022.

Dario Alvarez, MD FRONTERA 2013

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

FRONTERA allowed me to see and understand firsthand the environment and conditions to which people living on each side of the border are subjected. Traveling to Nogales, AZ, I witnessed the different aspects of the small city. First, our talk with Sheriff Tony Estrada opened my eyes to the aid the side of our state is providing to the families in the border area, whether documented or not. As an immigrant myself, many of the laws and reforms in our state appear harsh and lead to social separation; the Sheriff’s office takes the initiative to protect innocent lives while treating every individual equally, a change from other departments I am accustomed to. At the same time, Nogales’ health center is an inspiration, and an example of why I want to join the medical field. Whether it is at the facility, or their mobile unit, they reach as many people and protect them, teach them about hygiene, and promote the Promotora movement. I was part of the movement, still am. Making safety kits for migrants in the process of crossing, and personally delivering them, was a one of a kind experience. I also had the opportunity of working alongside the epidemiologist Dr. Kacey Ernst and entomologist Dr. Kathryn Walker, both took me under their wing and taught me about poverty across the border and the unfortunate presence of disease. Since FRONTERA ended, I was able to continue research work under Dr. Ernst and the Public Health department. The program opened many doors and gave way to even more experiences and learning situations, and in the end, made me a great candidate for medical school.

Adrian Franco Vanegas, BS, MA PMAP-scholar- Medical student

Frontera 2017

What benefits did you experience during your time in the Program?

Coupled with my collective experience in volunteering with Clinic Amistad, the FRONTERA internship solidified my understanding of why underserved patients delay seeking medical treatment. Language barriers, lack of transportation to health care facilities, the costs of medical care, and poor health literacy all contribute to the inaccessibility of health services in border communities. FRONTERA has also taught me the ongoing history of collaboration between United States and Mexico in uplifting border communities. Working together with the physicians from Secretaria de Salud, I witnessed the ripple effect that physicians can have by directly visiting communities to provide health services. By raising awareness and connecting border communities with health services, one can bridge the gap in health in underserved populations and provide them health information relevant to them. . The ability to clearly communicate and educate in two languages, both English and Spanish, will allow me to fulfill the community needs of rural Arizona as a future physician and beyond.

P.S. I send a special shout out to Dr. Alejandra Zapien, program director, who has been a great mentor throughout my professional career in medicine.