Paola Mina-Osorio
*COLOR PAPERBACK VERSION*Have you ever been told by a counselor or family member that a career in medicine is not right for you?Are you interested in a career in medicine and don’t know where to start?Have you ever wondered why we need more Hispanic physicians in the US and why you are needed?Are you an immigrant, first-generation or non-traditional student interested in learning more about the Hispanic population in the US and their healthcare status and needs?Would you like to learn from stories of successful Hispanic physicians who have gone through significant challenges throughout their lives and careers?Are you a parent, school teacher, or counselor interested in helping your student or child navigate through a career in medicine?Authored by an immigrant Hispanic doctor and scientist, ¡Un Doctor, Por Favor! was inspired by a Hispanic student who was told by her school counselor that she was 'not college material.' This real-life story, which is followed in the book, is but one example of the difficulties faced by young Hispanics trying to enter the medical field. ¡Un Doctor, Por Favor! provides an overview of the complex health and educational challenges faced by Hispanics in the US, and presents it by the numbers-aggregating current research in an understandable format and beyond the numbers through real people’s struggles and successes. The book contains stories of Hispanic physicians who have achieved their goals despite the difficulties. Their stories illustrate what can be achieved with courage and perseverance. Each chapter features an 'online resources' section with dozens of links to relevant websites on Hispanic demographics, information about underrepresented minorities in medicine, and advice for students who are interested in a career in medicine but do not know where to start or need to pursue an alternative path to medical education.Finally, the book highlights the remarkable progress in educational attainment that the Hispanic population has made over time, demonstrating that success is possible.Contributions by: Arturo Casadevall MD PhD, Consuelo Casillas MD, Juan Carlos Caicedo MD; Latanya Benjamin MD, FAAD, FAAP, Marietta Vasquez MD, Nina Ramirez MD, FAAAAI, FCCP and Pilar Ortega MD.
