Tell us about your background:
I grew up mostly in southern California, specifically in the areas east of Los Angeles, where my high school was probably about 85-90 percent Latino. I was born to a mother and father who were both 16 years old, and because they were so young, my parents didn’t have the opportunity to attend college. This motivated me to work hard and earn my way as an undergrad at the University of California, Berkeley, where I majored in Integrative Biology — a degree that deals mostly with human anatomy and physiology.
It may come as a surprise to some that I received a scholarship for Taekwondo, but on the west coast, sports like wrestling and lacrosse take a backseat to martial arts! I was recruited by Berkeley during my senior year of high school and accepted their scholarship offer. While at Cal, I excelled as a member the Cal Taekwondo Team and eventually I was named team captain. I am proud to say that not only did I complete my B.S., but that during all 4 years of my college tenure we were Collegiate National Champions.
What is your role in the medical program at OSU?
I have been at Ohio State since 2007 and will be entering my second year as a medical student. This last year I was vice president of my medical school class — a position voted upon by all my peers, so it was especially rewarding. During this time, I also helped my friend Adrian Huerta and Alberto Pereda start up SUR (Strength, Unity, and Respect — a male Latino support group) and LGPSA (Latino Graduate and Professional Student Association).
In March of 2009, at the United Nations in New York, I received one of 11 positions as a national officer of LMSA (Latino Medical Student Association). This is important because LMSA is the only national student group for Latino Medical students. It was also a great honor, because medical students from all over the U.S. voted for me. I am the first Ohio State Medical student to hold such a position.
What brought you to Ohio State? (How did you decide to attend Medical School?) What are your hopes for your future in the field?
My experiences at Los Angeles County Hospital are what come to mind. When I was young, I witnessed how people without health care or even citizenship were being marginalized by the system, and this really pushed me towards a life in medicine. It was so disheartening to see people go without basic healthcare; it was even worse to see them treated without the dignity and respect they deserved.
My goal as a physician is two-fold: 1) to help underserved communities like that of East Los Angeles; and 2) to use my position as a physician to lobby for political gains related to health care. My personal goal is to reward the hard labor and sacrifices of my parents through my success.
Do you have a message for Hispanic/Latin@ students who might be interested in attending grad school, pursuing a Ph.D., or attending medical school?
I would tell undergraduates to really reflect on why they want to pursue a career in medicine. It's a long and winding path, but if you have something that can motivate you (for me it’s my family and community) then it becomes a lot easier.
Also, there are so few Latinos in graduate/professional school today that anyone in these programs becomes, by default, a representative for the Latino community. Show the world what we are made of and that we can compete with the best of them by making sure everything you do is above and beyond what is required!
On a personal note, I am willing to help any student considering medical school with questions or concerns who might be interested in contacting me. Remember, by not contacting someone who has gone through the hoops for help, you're just adding one more barrier to your path … believe me, I know! (JoeyFDelgado@gmail.com).
Two final points we would like you to touch upon: 1) What does medical school require of you? 2) What is the impact of your studies and why are they relevant to the Latino community?
Medical school is easy — it just requires you to turn off your cell phone, sign off of Facebook, and turn off the music you have on that you (and most students) swear they can listen to while studying. I hate studying just as much as the next person, that's why I try to get it done as quickly as possible! The key is not having ANY distractions — a formula that ALWAYS works! Besides that, medical school requires you to be focused and that you have an interest in what you're studying.
My studies will help me ultimately reach my goal of becoming a successful physician who is able to remedy the many health problems dealt with by a sector of the Latino community. If I can do this and inspire young Latinos to believe that such a career ascension is possible, the Latino community as a whole will realize major progress in the area of health and wellness.
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