Class of 2015

Health Systems Management major

Spanish minor

Experiential learning taught me how to practice cultural humility, especially within communities of a different ethnic background. As a Latina, I served Asians and African Americans in their own communities so I always had to make sure I was as respectful as possible and took every opportunity to learn. This was important because my degree focused on non-clinical hospital roles. Given that hospitals are very diverse settings, it was extremely important that I learn how to work with other individuals.

I learned about inequities in housing, healthcare, and education in Chicago. This was most impactful because I grew up on the Southside of Chicago and it was not until I left my community and visited others that I was able to understand how the lack of social mobility and the lack of city funds kept our Black and Brown communities in poverty. I also learned that in hospitals many people say that patients are non-compliant but really, its the lack of affordability and access that keeps them from taking care of themselves. This all helped me understand my career through a social justice lens.

I decided to pursue a Master's of Public Health in Health Policy and Administration, where I am able to advocate for social justice issues at the state and federal levels. This allowed me to stay within the healthcare field but continue to learn additional skills in research and community work so that I can continue to receive the same experience I got with service-learning at Loyola.