2014 Dominican Republic Medical Mission
July 19th – June 26th, 2014.
2014 Jose's Hands Ambassadors
Shilpa Kailas
My name is Shilpa Kailas and I am currently a first year medical student at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, Florida. I previously attended Nova Southeastern University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a double minor in Chemistry and Psychology. Through my undergraduate studies and volunteer experiences at a low income clinic and center for disadvantaged youth, I cultivated a special interest in underserved populations. This has motivated me to learn more about healthcare disparities not just in my neighborhood, but on a global scale. The Jose’s Hands Grant provides the opportunity to explore the factors that lead to inequity and become a more educated patient advocate in the future. In my spare time, I enjoy photography and traveling to experience new cultures and places. I am honored to be chosen as a 2014 ambassador for Jose’s Hands and couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity!
Inés Robles
My name is Inés Robles and I am a first year medical student in Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Ponce, Puerto Rico. I am set to graduate in 2018. I received my Bachelor in Molecular Biology at University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. My bilingual skills and focus on community collaborations has led me to a number of volunteer opportunities and community leadership roles. Ultimately, I plan to continue a lifelong involvement, as a physician, for underserved communities.
Verónica Zamora
My name is Verónica Zamora, and I am excited for my first medical trip! I am an upcoming second year medical student at the Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences. I completed my Bachelor in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. After college, I worked for a year and a half as a post-baccalaureate student in the Behavioral Neuroscience Branch of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at Baltimore. During that time, I was a volunteer at the Baltimore Rescue Mission Medical Clinic. There, every Wednesday students from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine together with post-baccalaureate students from NIDA help the homeless people and learn by the discussion of the cases with Dr. John Dalton. I am aspiring to become an internist, and I believe that being from Puerto Rico has given me the opportunity to be more aware of the health disparities in other islands of the Caribbean, like Dominican Republic.
Francisco Tirado
My name is Francisco Tirado and I’m from Dorado, Puerto Rico. Currently I’m attending first year of medical school at Universidad Central del Caribe. Among my hobbies are going to the gym and soccer. This is my first time being a part of a medical mission and I’m excited to help others and improve my clinical skills, with which I hope to gain experience in order to pursue a career in surgery.