We recently spoke with alum Karla Arce, MD (‘10), to talk about her work as a practicing endocrinologist and her time at Ross University School of Medicine. Dr. Arce, who was born in Peru, earned her undergraduate degree in biology at Florida International University, and her master’s degree in biomedical sciences at Barry University, both in Miami.
Ross: Where you are practicing currently, and what types of patients do you see?
Dr. Arce: I’m currently employed by Mount Sinai Medical Center, and mainly work in their satellite, multi-specialty clinic in Coral Gables, Florida. The majority of patients I see are for diabetes and thyroid disorders. I also see patients with pituitary and adrenal disorders.
Is diabetes preventable? Is it on the rise in the US?
Type 2 diabetes is a preventable disease. Type 1 diabetes unfortunately is not. Diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate in the United States; nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes, and out of that number, nearly 95% have type 2.
What advice do you give to pre-diabetic or diabetic patients?
I advise patients to lose about 7% of their weight if they are overweight or obese. I recommend moderate-intensity exercise such as brisk walking for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. I also tell patients to stop smoking, reduce carbohydrate intake, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and drink less alcohol.
Tell me about your experience at Ross. How did you like life in Dominica?
Overall, I would say my experience at Ross was a positive one. Moving to Dominica was my first time away from home and the first semester was very challenging, but I met great people along the way and we helped one another. The campus had some technological advances and it was in the process of expanding but we had the basic necessities and support we needed. For my clinical rotations I got the opportunity to live in different states, such as New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Florida, and I learned from different health care systems and worked with great physicians. I worked hard to excel during my clinical rotations and pre-matched at my top residency program at Cleveland Clinic Florida. It's up to students to make the most of the opportunity.
