Where We Are Now
Testimony by Maria del Pilar Ortega
"What Salud has done for me"
Salud's founding in the Spring of 2000 was a critical moment in my personal and professional development. My experiences in Salud were without a doubt some of the most memorable of my college career, and they have shaped my future more than I realized at the time. In addition to building basic skills in leadership and teamwork, I gained a strong knowledge base in the areas of cultural competency, medical interpretation, patient advocacy, and Hispanic/Latino culture and health practices. This unique set of skills and knowledge has allowed me to offer valuable contributions in numerous school and professional settings. I am honored to have been recognized by organizations such as the Johns Hopkins Student Excellence Award for Leadership and Service in 2002 and the American Medical Association Foundation Leadership Award in 2003. What I learned in Salud has also been the basis for my ongoing research projects concerning issues such as medical interpretive services and specific Hispanic/Latino health preferences. As I learn the art of medicine, and as the Hispanic/Latino community continues to grow, my knowledge of the Hispanic/Latino culture has been very important to me and to share with my classmates. Each day, when I encounter patients of different backgrounds and cultures, I realize that my "Salud skills" help me to provide the best possible care for all my patients.
Pilar graduated JHU in 2002, and she is currently studying medicine at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.