Growing up in a Spanish immersion program throughout my elementary and middle school years, and then continuing my language studies in high school, inspired me to pursue a secondary education that incorporated Spanish alongside my passion for healthcare. This led me to my major, Language and International Health, which combines humanities-focused language courses with a health science focus. The coursework I have taken and the professional skills I have gained over the course of my four years spent at Clemson have greatly prepared me for a future career as a physician assistant (PA). 

 

As I continue to explore the role of language in healthcare and embrace a more holistic approach to patient care, I have grown in my cultural competence. My time abroad spent in Seville, Spain allowed me to gain an international and interdisciplinary perspective on healthcare. I had the opportunity to shadow the nurses at a local hospital, Clínica Santa Isabel, which provided me first-hand exposure to the delivery of health services in Spain. This experience also gave me the opportunity to reflect on the importance of communication in healthcare, specifically language barriers. As I continue to improve upon my Spanish proficiency, I hope to incorporate my language skills into my future work as a PA and provide the most comprehensive care as possible.