Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Francisco.
Hi Jamie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I immigrated from the Philippines at a young age, where my family of six faced the challenge of living in a one-bedroom space after my parents left their jobs and family behind. Despite financial constraints, my parents ensured that we never felt the impact of our limited income. They provided for our necessities, supported our passions, and created opportunities for us to pursue our dreams. My introduction to medicine occurred when I accompanied my father to his doctor’s appointments. After months of searching, we found a clinic that accepted Medicaid, a rarity in my community where many faced similar limitations in accessing healthcare. My father’s diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in his 30s shed light on the challenges faced by immigrants in rural areas with limited medical education and healthcare resources. Observing my father’s journey, with the incorporation of pills, finger pricks, and never-ending medical bills, highlighted the significant impact of healthcare accessibility on individuals’ well-being. My father, who was my lifelong best friend and role model, passed away in 2021 during the pandemic, and I was unable to visit him during his month-long hospitalization. I hoped healthcare professionals would show him kindness as the last people he encountered. This firsthand experience illuminated the evident financial and cultural barriers in underserved communities, sparking my interest in medicine. I pursued human biology at the University of California Irvine, continued my education, and attained my Master’s with honors at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Currently, at 24 years old, I am a first-generation medical student at Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine St. Louis Campus. This school values the creation of culturally competent physicians in the heart of Downtown St. Louis. My goal is to be more than a traditional physician; I aspire to be a physician dedicated to the community, working towards healing individuals of all backgrounds and increasing healthcare accessibility in disadvantaged communities.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Navigating the immigrant experience in America brought forth its fair share of challenges, from learning a new language to immersing myself in a vastly different culture. Growing up with limited financial means meant dealing with a scarcity of resources, occasionally struggling to meet necessities. Healthcare accessibility in my area was limited, and the education systems were far from ideal.
Throughout my life, my financial instability hindered the pursuit of my aspirations, denying me numerous opportunities I longed to pursue simply because I couldn’t afford them. During college and my master’s, I worked to afford essential expenses. The loss of my father, the primary breadwinner, heightened our family’s financial strain, making the pursuit of education seem even more challenging to attain. The thought of the burden of student loans only added to the stress. Despite these challenges, I invested in my long-term future through education. I am honored to be the first in my family and extended family to pursue a medical career.
Additionally, I encountered hurdles as an Asian immigrant woman aspiring to become a physician. Negativity and judgment surfaced in response to my lifestyle. I confidently express myself through my attire, vocalize my opinions, and engage in various hobbies, including dance, acting, modeling, and pageantry. My path was unconventional for an individual striving to be a physician, and criticism came in various forms — from negative comments about what I wore, the amount of makeup I wore, or suggestions of pursuing “more respectable” activities like playing an instrument over dancing.
Being told I did not fit the stereotypical image of a doctor due to my appearance and ethnicity only fueled my determination. The biases against a filipino immigrant woman pursuing a career in medicine, let alone surgery, were numerous. Yet, I continued to believe in myself. Throughout this journey, my support system played a pivotal role. My father instilled in me a sense of grit and humility, while my mother, Judy Francisco, made significant sacrifices, using her savings to support my pursuits. In the face of adversity, my close family and friends, notably my partner Ryan, provided constant encouragement. Their belief in me and my internal drive fueled my resilience and made me the strong individual I am today. This transformative experience has not just shaped the person I’ve become today but has strengthened me as a resilient individual capable of overcoming challenges with grace.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently in my first year of medical school, with aspirations to specialize in general surgery due to its combination of hands-on procedures and direct patient interaction. Alongside my academic pursuits, I hold several leadership roles at my medical school, serving as the vice president of the Dermatology interest group, handling public relations for OBGYN, and managing public relations for my cohort. I am currently working on research projects with a local trauma surgeon, aiming to contribute to advancing medicine, particularly in the realm of trauma. Beyond my medical studies, I am a content creator on YouTube and Instagram, producing content that offers a glimpse into my day-to-day life as a medical student and assisting premed individuals facing similar challenges. I have collaborated with various brands, including Fabletics Scrubs.
Moreover, I established “Bridge to Medicine” in 2018, a platform aimed at inspiring and aiding minorities or individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a medical career. Through this initiative, I contributed by creating masks during the COVID mask shortage and providing mentorship to premed students. I love having a platform where I can inspire individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, women, and minorities to pursue medicine. We need more representation of people like us to become our doctors!
How do you define success?
I believe that success is not solely defined by achieving the ultimate objective but is encapsulated in the journey. Overcoming challenges and obstacles encountered along the way constitutes the most fulfilling moments. The ability to rise after setbacks and actively pursue one’s aspirations mirrors true success. Embracing failure, coupled with the ability to take valuable lessons from it, is a hallmark of a truly successful individual.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamielfrancisco/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-francisco-2050a12b8
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamiefrancisco263
