A Journey of a Thousand Miles…
Born in Miami and currently an Illinois resident, Ramirez is a first-generation Guatemalan American and was the first in her family to attend university. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, she heard about Ross Med through a friend who attended a meeting with other students.
“I can remember vividly when I decided to become a physician,” Ramirez said. “I was around 10 years old and was at my pediatrician’s office with my younger siblings. Once settled, the doctor walked in and the first to be checked was my one-year-old brother. He had to get vaccinations and he was outright wailing.”
As the experienced older sister, Ramirez was thinking that the crying was so annoying since getting vaccines wasn’t even that bad. “But he was a baby and didn’t understand what was going on. Seeing the patience with which my pediatrician took care of my brother and watching the way he spoke in a low, steady tone while ignoring the loud noise in that tiny room, I was fascinated.”
And at that moment, it all came together for Ramirez. “I can do that someday,” she thought. “I can calm a baby down, too. I want to be a doctor.”
That inspirational physician was Dr. Negrette in Miami, “He was always caring and took the time to explain treatments to my mom in a way that she could understand. He never rushed our visits and he made sure to follow up as necessary. I will always remember him as the best pediatrician I ever had.”
Since that day, Ramirez hasn’t faltered in her decision to go to medical school and complete her MD degree.
The Big Countdown
“As Match Day got closer, I couldn’t sleep at all. I was so anxious at times that I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I was so scared of the possibility that I wouldn’t match,” Ramirez says of the days leading up to March 17, 2024. “But I was equally hopeful that everything would work out as it should and that I would be okay no matter what happened.”
Ramirez’s best friend Justin took her out for breakfast to minimize the anxiety she felt as she watched the minutes slowly tick by. At 11:00, on the dot, she nervously went to the NRMP site and soon shouted, “Yes! I did it!”
Ramirez and Justin high-fived as she realized she matched with her first choice program of Family Medicine at Rush Esperanza in Chicago. While Justin recorded her reaction to send to her family, she said the waterworks started for her, with Justin also on the verge of happy tears. She texted her family who celebrated with her across the miles, telling her they always knew she would match her first choice. She and Justin even shared the good news with the waitress who noticed their excitement.
“I think the fact that I speak Spanish definitely gave me an upper hand in the areas I was looking to match. My family lives in Illinois and I was looking to stay in Chicago or Wisconsin where there’s a high population of Spanish-speaking patients,” Ramirez responded when asked why she thought she was able to achieve her first choice match.
“I also was (and still am) very interested in working with low income patients to provide continuity of care to those who lack health care, but have higher medical needs,” she continued. “Before I started at Ross, I not only worked as an EMT, but also as a waitress and cosmetologist – I highlighted my ability to interact well with others and thrive in high pressure environments. I spoke a lot about my interests in volunteering since I took part in a medical-dental global brigade to Honduras during my undergrad studies and my desire to eventually work as a physician through Doctors Without Borders.”
Ramirez + Ross Med = The Right Match
“One of the reasons I chose to apply to Ross Med was because I had taken a year off before starting medical school and I wanted an option where I would be able to start as soon as possible, (so the timing was good),” Ramirez said before also explaining that the people have made the experience so special. She says she is very grateful to Ross Med for giving her the chance to start her journey towards a career in medicine.
“The most impactful aspect of my experience at Ross Med is the people I have come to know. Rossies are a great group of people to have around you. Throughout my time in clinicals and basic sciences there were students who wanted to help at all times,” Ramirez said. “Any fears I had about my own personal life or struggles were met with understanding and advice on how to best manage them. I truly could not have gotten to where I am at without my fellow Rossies!”
No one said it would be easy to become a physician. And Ramirez can attest to that, stating that her insecurities and lack of self-confidence have been the most difficult to overcome.
“It’s really hard not to compare yourself to your peers while in school, specifically when it comes to grades,” she said. “Sometimes I felt like I fell behind my peers, especially since I had to repeat my first semester; I felt horrible because I had never failed in my life. But this taught me perseverance and to never give up on the things I want for myself. I learned that through hard work and dedication, anything is possible. I have gathered the confidence I needed in myself to get back up whenever things don’t go my way. If everything worked out perfectly, I think life wouldn’t be half as interesting.”
Like many other students with parents who came to the United States seeking greater opportunities for themselves and their offspring, Ramirez is the first in her family to pursue a medical degree. “I found studying challenging and had trouble figuring out how to make myself a competitive candidate for residency. Because of this, I’ve learned that it is very important to find yourself a mentor or upperclassmen to guide you as you traverse medical school; someone you can rely on to answer your questions and who wants to help you achieve your goals.”
Ramirez’s Road to Residency
While some future physicians take a relatively direct route to medical school, Ramirez chose a slightly different path.
“I did a year of cosmetology before going to medical school, and I still cut hair and do nails as a hobby for my family. I think it helped me to recognize issues with skin, scalp and nails which is important in family medicine. I spoke to a program director who suggested I use my skills in dermatology as a family medicine physician,” Ramirez shared. “I also like playing video games with friends which makes me a team player. I really like that medicine is interactive so you’re constantly working with others to heal patients – and of course you have your colleagues to help you or talk things through when you don’t understand something.”
Beyond the typical challenges of medical school, during Ramirez’s last two semesters – and while studying for Step 1 – her family needed help at home. As she tried to stay focused on her studies, she also was taking her dad to eye doctor appointments as he dealt with complications from glaucoma and cataract surgeries.
From Sacrifice to Success
While at Ross Med, Ramirez was away from family and friends for almost four years and she missed them dearly at times, she said when talking about the sacrifices it takes to attend medical school.
“They would ask to see me and I had to draw a line somewhere because I was either studying or sleeping or going to the gym,” she explains. “I made time to call during the week, but it wasn’t the same as seeing each other in person. Although it was difficult, we made it work. I am lucky to have such understanding and respectful friends and family.”
Envisioning her life 10 years into the future, Ramirez says she hopes to have her own practice or work alongside other physicians in a private practice. But that’s just part of her ambitions. “I hope to be attending a teaching hospital so I can support students and residents in the midst of their medical careers, while also giving students an opportunity to shadow me.”
But it’s not just about her clinical skills. In Ramirez’s heart, she wants to provide care in low-income areas or volunteer in those communities so that more people have access to quality medical care.
Just as Shadi Ramirez said she was “ecstatic” when she received her match, her fellow Rossies are ecstatic about her future. Congratulations, Shadi! And best wishes as you set out to change the world – one patient at a time.
