What inspired you to study medicine?
My fascination with how children grow and develop, in addition to a firm commitment to serving my community. Growing up, I saw the profound impact of care and mentorship on children by watching my mother, a teacher, dedicate herself entirely to her students. I learned that children are not simply “miniature adults,” but resilient and constantly evolving individuals who require patience, understanding, and support to thrive. My mom cared for their minds, and I care for their health.
What are you most passionate about in your profession?
Pediatrics is an opportunity to invest in the future of my community. By providing compassionate and accessible medical care to children, I can help them build a solid, healthy foundation for the rest of their lives. I want to be a trusted resource for families.
Are there any recurring conditions in your specialization that you would like to mention?
I am seeing an alarming rise in obesity and screen time in increasingly younger children, who spend hours glued to a phone or tablet, creating a disconnection from the physical world that affects their childhood. Digital sedentary behavior has replaced free play, which triggers overweight rates and affects their motor development, sleep quality, and ability to interact with other children.
Screens have become the “emotional pacifier” of our time, and the physical and emotional consequences are altering a stage that should be about movement and discovery.
It’s not about judging parents, but, as doctors and as a community, we have to sound the alarm. We need to prescribe “less Wi-Fi and more park,” and help families recover those spaces for active play. If we don’t intervene now, we are compromising the physical health of this generation and robbing them of the very essence of what a healthy and happy childhood should be.
What do you like about living in Louisiana?
My favorite part about living in Louisiana is the food and culture! I love that there is always something to do; the city feels alive.
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Every
Baleada Tells a Story
Growing up in a Honduran household, I could have this food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Baleadas were more than just something to eat. They were a tradition, a comfort food, and a connection to my culture. Some of my earliest memories when moving to the United States, when I was a child, were when my grandfather would pick up and bring freshly made baleadas to the breakfast table for us.
This simple yet meaningful dish originated along the northern coast of Honduras and has become a symbol of the Honduran culture. For many Hispanics, not only Hondurans, baleadas are considered a staple of everyday life. The traditional baleada sencilla contains beans, cheese, and crema, but my family and I have created our own variations by adding eggs and avocado (and sometimes meat when my brother is feeling extra hungry).
Living away from Honduras meant that some traditions and family felt distant and far to reach, but food has a unique way of making those factors feel closer. It brings back memories of your past, and it never fails to bring me back to my family gathering around the table with the Spanish radio on slightly in the background and everyone preparing their baleadas with eggs, pouring their coffee before there’s no more left. That is what I think of every time I eat a baleada.
Even when I am being picky or have absolutely no idea what to eat, a warm baleada will always take my mood away. For many people, a baleada may simply be a popular Honduran dish. For me, it is a reminder of where I come from, the people who raised me, and the culture that continues to shape who I am, because love can be felt through the taste.
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