Global Engagement Colleague Spotlight

What is your current title and capacity within our Department?

Administrative Assistant -Grand Rounds & Global Health Coordinator

What are your academic and/or research interests?

In terms of my academic interests, I have always been passionate about making difference in people’s lives. I am drawn to the complexities of humans needs and emotions and have pursued courses and projects related to this area. I have a consistent path of learning about emotional development and social issues. Regarding work, I thrive in environments that are involved in improving quality of life of others, fostering learning, and environments that are a great source of a resources for communities. I am particularly interested and have a strong pull to the medical field especially in places where the cause and goals include improving the lives of children and the community as a whole. Additionally, I am drawn to workplaces that foster a culture of growing together – improving yourself and taking others along the path. I value an environment that allows me to be focused, creative, and a leader in constant collaboration with others. In terms of research, I have a strong interest in exploring the medical field with Global Health and with all that it involves. Because I believe global health has the potential to make a considerable and meaningful contribution to humankind, I am interested and eager to explore innovative approaches addressing how Stanford can maintain and continue its successful global health programs for years to come. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute and have a positive impact working with everyone on Global Health.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Brazil. I lived there half of my life. The other half I’ve lived here in California.

How do you think your upbringing influenced your world view? (culture, religion, geography, economics, other factors)?

I most certainly believe my upbringing influenced my worldview. As my first view into the world, my family shaped me to grow up with a strong sense of community, accountability and everyone taking a responsible active part for a successful whole. My mother and paternal grandmother are two of my main sources and remarkable examples of hope, perseverance, grace, intelligence and beauty. I have to say, I feel very blessed to have had the influence of a strong and kind religious upbringing. It plays a pivotal role on how I see and respect everyone’s individuality, attributes, and contributions. It has shaped and it is definitely the root of strong ethical and moral principles in my soul. These principles drive me to know that there is a purpose to life bigger than I can imagine. As of my cultural background, I am lucky to say that at this point, I have two that has shaped me with balance. Not a perfect balance but often I see how, in the pendulum of habits, that I adjust both to the Brazilian way and Californian way. As we know, we are quite unique here, having the opportunity to interact with so many other cultures.

How is healthcare different in other countries where you have lived/visited/worked?

Health care is far from being a mainstream system across the globe. As we know, not just financially but major political influences shape how health care is accessed by the general population. With that said, I have seen that in countries with less financial means, medical staff across the board are more creative and more willing to break protocols in order to deliver medical assistance, often functioning with minimal resources or nothing. I have also seen that education, information or lack of, is a major part of medical care. I often observed that in developing, low-and middle-income, and disadvantage countries, money and status (sometimes even clothes you wear) will determine what kind of medical care you will receive. It is clear what is a privately owned hospital and who they serve and resources they have and how that can be vastly different from the government hospitals. There is a major consideration regarding the lack of pay for doctors when working in non-private institutions or practices.

How do you think we can improve the care of our patients in the USA?

As an active believer in education, my answer lies on knowledge. Although we can all suggest a fix for HealthCare to all, I believe a better program of informing the population of self-care and preventative care is also part of the solution, perhaps the beginning focus. Adults are the law and decisions makers, but children can change old habits. I would love to see a nation awareness program implemented in schools twice a year in all levels. Where we would have seminars or workshops. As you attend college, health awareness should be at least a mandatory class. This is just one tiny window in the vast subject of patients care. The little I have known of Stanford culture, I am able to see the collaboration and sharing of cases for improvement toward a better practice. We need more of that. Also, more follow up care for patients’ mental well-being. I would suggest more funds in research areas of pain management. It is a lot of work, with a lot of moving parts, but a sense of abundance and purpose, a sense of community, and accountability makes me see opportunities to overcome problems and find solutions. If our communities are better, we are better.

How does a global perspective strengthen the care of patients?

Awareness of global health issues exposes everyone in the health care system to a range of heath challenges, issues and solutions from everywhere. It also increased our already vast knowledge. Therefore, it allows the ones involved to be more attuned to significant social, economic, and environmental causes that can determine how health care is received by different people. It allows for one to see the value of access to information, to becoming an advocate for patient well-being globally, to have advances in medical research, to recognize emerging diseases, increased collaboration, and exchange of knowledge for a more diverse and better health system. 

How have your unique insights and experiences along your journey informed your work and career?

My unique insight and experiences are shaped by the vast amount of interaction with a large group of culturally diverse people. From growing up with people that valued education and learning and being exposed to the medical field as many family members are doctors, to having worked as youth leader, to being the ambassador for a non-profit, to networking with people from all professional fields – it shapes how I see the potential of my career path. My experiences and journey have overall impacted me greatly and expanded my understanding of diversity. This allows me to have not only a lot of empathy but develop a skill where I am able to see and deliver a more inclusive and individualized approach to each part of my work.

What has been your most challenging or surprising lesson learned when engaging with other cultures? 

I am fascinated by different cultures. There is so much you learn about others. I personally find out a lot about myself. The most impactful learned lesson I had is to understand someone else’s life journey and what made them.  To understand that each person is truly in their own journey of life, even if we walk side-by-side with someone. 

What has been the most amazing thing you have seen while traveling to another country?

That we are at core all the same. We all seek love and a happy life.  And there is an amazing list of food, clothing, colors, cultural habits, festivals, religion practices, geography… 

Please share any final thoughts, stories, ideas, and recommendations you would like included.

I often say how lucky I feel to have had the upbringing I had and the people I had around me. My memories are filled with lessons, colors, smells, and so much love. I hope that even if it is of a small fraction of time, I can positively impact those who I have contact with.