Envelopes Determine Destiny for Medical Students Heading to Residency
In a moment that will shape their futures, several young medical students received life-changing news on Friday as they found out which residency program they were accepted into. For Stephanie Ureña and Yhan Colón Ibán, both medical students at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the envelopes they received held the keys to their next chapter.
Stephanie excitedly shared, “I’m going to Columbia, and that was my ‘first choice’, I’m very, very grateful.” While Yhan added, “We stayed in New York,” revealing their plans to continue their medical careers in the city that has influenced their path of wanting to help their community, especially during the pandemic.
As they look forward to their future in medicine, both Stephanie and Yhan are driven by a desire to make a difference. Stephanie expressed her ambition to become a family doctor, emphasizing the importance of being the first point of contact for patients and helping them navigate the healthcare system. Yhan, on the other hand, aims to address the underrepresentation of Hispanics in the field of general surgery while also fulfilling his fascination with surgery and the operating room.
Overcoming various obstacles on their journey to medicine, both Stephanie and Yhan are the first in their families to become doctors. They credit their perseverance and determination to their parents, particularly their immigrant backgrounds which presented unique challenges in navigating the education system.
For proud mothers like Cecilia Concepción and Mery Iban, the joy and pride in their children’s accomplishments overflow. Cecilia expressed her gratitude, stating, “Thank God, I have no words… that I am very proud of her, that I adore her and I love her.” Similarly, Mery shared, “I love him with my soul and we are more than proud, our family, more than proud and he represents us all in one way or another.”
Both Stephanie and Yhan will be starting their residency in New York City, where they hope to continue making a difference in the medical field. They look forward to engaging with patients in their native language, Spanish, as they embark on this new chapter in their medical careers.
As they prepare for the next phase of their journey, Stephanie and Yhan invite others to follow their path and strive for their dreams, despite any challenges they may face. Their story serves as an inspiration for aspiring doctors and underscores the importance of diversity and representation in the medical field.