March 2008
A couple of days ago I was riding the Guagua (the bus) with my friends when an elderly lady, sitting in the back of the bus, worriedly yelled, “is there a doctor on the bus?” Her soft voice echoed throughout the crowded bus and everyone paused and got silent for a second. As I turned around, a doctor was already attending a young girl that was short of breath. At the moment I got really excited and I said to myself, “in a few years I will be the one responding to that call.”
Life as a medical school student in Cuba
The opportunity to study medicine in Cuba has indeed been the greatest opportunity of my life. Living in Cuba has shown me, through experience, the other side of the coin; that is, the solidarity of the struggling third world or those on the periphery. I am very thankful that the differences between the USA and Cuba were temporarily put aside in an effort to allow US students to study medicine in Havana, Cuba.
Medicine is an art and to study this art is a privilege and a commitment. The art of Cuban medicine requires that students study long hours under a hot and humid climate. Oftentimes, a 24-hour day seems too short. I am currently studying the nervous system and the material is very intense and complex, yet it is extremely beautiful and interesting. As time passes by I acquire a greater understanding of its intricacies and nuances, and then, fall more and more in love with the art of medicine. I have discovered that the human body is such an incredible piece of art and the process that we undergo to understand it is an art within itself, one that leaves me wanting more as I continue in its study.
My love for medicine is what allows me to wake up every morning with a positive attitude. It is difficult to be away from our loved ones and to have absolutely no type of communication for extended periods of time. Phone calls are ridiculously expensive and internet access is very limited. In a few months I will have the privilege to return home for a month to see my family. Nonetheless, many of my classmates will remain in Cuba during their summer break because their families cannot afford to bring them home. Some will spend 2 years, 3years or even 6 years without going home. Though this is unfortunate, it is a lesson nonetheless, one that speaks affirmatively of commitment and sacrifice, and ultimately, these are the qualities that will render us compassionate doctors. What happens now is a great phenomenon, where many students begin to see the world and the health of its habitants with different eyes, softer and kinder, with a more altruistic kind of duty.
I’m fully aware of the dynamic nature of my presence here, but one thing remains, the generosity of the Cuban government is immense; it’s God’s gift. The fruits of their generosity will eventually reach the most remote places on Earth. Medical care will be distributed to remote and poor parts of Africa and Latin America, places that have been ignored and have been in need for many years. I will be among the many doctors trained in Cuba that will carry the seeds to those in need and for me, this is the greatest honor of my life; it is and will be a privilege. This generosity will respond to the calls of the poor, the rich and everyone in need of medical attention.
