Match 2013 Profile Evelinda Gonzales, MD
Graduated: University of Arizona (MD/MPH program) Matched: Family Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque In her third year of medical school, Evelinda Gonzales, 28, realized that she loved working in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and adult and geriatric medicine. “And then I realized I want to be able to do all of that,” she says, “so I will go into family medicine, and from there I hope to work with underserved populations.” Beginning in childhood and continuing through her years at Nogales High School, Evelinda knew she wanted to be a doctor. Her dad was her big inspiration. Carlos Gonzales, MD, was the first in his family to go to college. He graduated from the UA College of Medicine in 1981. He practiced medicine in rural Patagonia while Evelinda was growing up, then joined the faculty of the UA Department of Family and Community Medicine. “I grew up seeing everything that he worked for and everything that he did to try and improve the lives of those around him,” Evelinda says. “I can’t deny that influenced my world view and my concept of seeing medicine as more of a calling than a job.” Evelinda initially wanted to go into a different field. “I tried to convince myself that I wanted to do something other than family medicine, but it didn’t work,” she says, with a smile. Father and daughter also both graduated from Med-Start, the UA College of Medicine’s five-week summer program for rural, minority, or economically disadvantaged high-school juniors. “It was a fantastic experience,” she says. “The classes were great, but I also got to meet other like-minded young people and made some really good friends.” Evelinda is one of only ten medical students at the UA College of Medicine–Tucson who will graduate with a dual degree (six MD/MPH, two MD/MAand two MD/PhD). In addition to her medical degree, she also earned a master’s degree in public health from the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. “During my third year of medical school, I realized that while I was learning so much about caring for individuals’ health, I could increase the impact I could have as a physician if I gained training on how to affect the health of communities as well.”
30 | Match Guide 2013