2020 Tillman Scholar
From a very young age, Guadalupe developed a strong sense of patriotism and devotion for her country. She considered a career in the military, but it wasn’t until the attacks of 9/11 that solidified this calling. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy and ultimately became a hospital corpsman. Dealing with war, the wounded and death was challenging, but it taught her many invaluable lessons. Despite the threat to life that she and her patients experienced, when Marines were wounded, their primary concern was typically not for themselves, but for their fellow Marine. It was clear to her that the best patient care had the whole patient in mind. Adequately treating the patient meant addressing all of their concerns and not just those that threatened their life.
Ultimately, It was her collective experiences in the military and life that lead her to the decision to become a doctor. Now, Guadalupe attends Indiana University School of Medicine and is preparing to complete her medical degree in May 2021. She aspires to become an emergency medicine physician. Moreover, she dreams of serving those in most need and carries on that spirit in the form of accessibility to medicine. She aims to be an exceptional physician to the uninsured, underserved and marginalized populations including veterans. She also plans to address issues regarding the social determinants of health and other health disparities and plans to impact policy.