Testimonials

Finding the Hispanic Center of Excellence at UIC was a gift. Not only did I find people who were kind enough to guide me in the process and educate me about the health field, but they were professionals who cared and wanted to see me succeed. Having experts who are dedicated, who encourage you, who want to see you achieve your goals and carry along their mission is a type education you should not take away from any aspiring student, physician or Center of Excellence.
--Cleo Garcia, UIC College of Medicine, Class of 2010

The encouragement and support HCOE provides for students that, otherwise, would not have received it, is the most commendable service I have found in many years. These programs influenced my direction during my undergraduate and now graduate years through weekend conferences, such as ESCUCHA, summer enrichment programs, cultural competency presentations, clinical and research experiences, MCAT prep, mock interviews, application and admissions counseling, and post-baccalaureate programs.  This is just a short list of a few ways these programs have helped shape who I am today.  I believe, though, most importantly, that the ongoing emotional support and encouragement that was provided in thousands of ways has been
instrumental in make me the humble servant that I plan to be for others.
--Sylvia D. Trevino, UIC College of Medicine, Class of 2007

I received a tremendous amount of academic training, support and strong encouragement that ultimately led me to becoming a doctor. As an undergraduate I attended ESCUCHA Network meetings which are a part of the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). The ESCUCHA Student Network is a program structured to help recruit, mentor, and advise students at the high school, undergraduate and medical school levels. The Network was instrumental in providing me the resources, skills, information and most importantly the support needed to go through the rigorous medical school application process.
--Dr. Humberto Sifuentes, UIC College of Medicine, 2006 Graduate

I was the first in my family to pursue higher education and with the outstanding help and
support from the Hispanic Center of Excellence at the University of Illinois at Chicago I was able to graduate from the UIC College of Medicine. The Center provided support and guidance throughout the medical school application process, preparing for admissions interviews, and ultimately getting accepted to, entering, and graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago- College of Medicine.  As a college student, I participated in the Academic Enrichment Program sponsored by HCOE.  This program helped to prepare me for the rigorous course of study of medical training. After completion of my Pediatric residency training at Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL, I again received outstanding support from the HCOE at UIC-COM.  I participated in their HCOE Faculty Fellowship Program which included academic seminars, professional development conferences, and ultimately my enrollment in the prestigious Masters of Health Professions Education Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Medical Education. 
--Dr. Imelda Huerta, Pediatrician/Clinical Instructor, Hope Children's Hospital, UIC COM Graduate

As a current student, I depend on the HCOE for guidance in my journey to becoming a physician. My career in medicine began one year ago, when the dedicated staff of HCOE invited me to join the academic community at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Since that time, I have become a member of the National Network of Latin American Medical Students- La Raza Medical Student Association (NNLAMS-LaRaMA) at the University of Illinois. This organization depends on the vital support of the Hispanic Center of Excellence in order to fulfill its goals of scholarship fundraising, community-wide bilingual health screenings and health education for underserved populations, as well as providing student support to current and aspiring medical students.

Through HCOE I have also had the opportunity to attend national conferences focused on providing healthcare to underrepresented populations and developing leadership skills for our future healthcare workers. Currently, I am conducting research in transplant surgery to help treat the devastating effects of renal failure from Diabetes- an opportunity made possible by HCOE.
--Christian Badillo, UIC College of Medicine, Class of 2009

"I have great respect and admiration for the Hispanic Center of Excellence, whose presence in the Latino Community has provided Health awareness and has promoted Latino advancement in Medical education, Congratulations!"
--Lucy Robles-Aquino, CEO, Hisponocare, Inc.

“The Hispanic Center of Excellence has been the heart and soul of my training and without their invaluable support I would not have been what I am today. Their dedication to serve our Hispanic/Latino Community inspires me to do the same. I do not have enough words to express my gratitude, suffice to say that there will always be a special place in my heart for those who's labor opened the doors for me to come in the University of Illinois at Chicago. Their legacy will continue to live on through those of us who benefited from their dedication.
--Dr. Marisela Dominguez, UIC Family Medicine

El Centro ha servido de ejemplo a otras instituciones y ojala que siga ayudando a los estudiantes que vienen a nuestra universidad.
-- Dr. Jesus Garcia-Martinez, UIC Department of Physiology and Biophysics

The Hispanic Center of Excellence is a major national pipeline that helps Latino students enter the medical profession. It is also a critical resource that contributes to addressing the lack of bilingual and culturally competent physicians to address the needs of the growing Latino population. LARES looks forward to working with the Hispanic Center for many more years to come. Congratulations to you and your staff.
--Leonard Ramirez, PhD, Director, Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services

The UIC Midwest Latino Health Research, Training and Policy Center salutes the Hispanic Center of Excellence. In particular, we want to Congratulate Dr. Jorge Girotti for his excellent leadership and commitment to the education of particularly minorities students in medical education. As a result of his leadership, UIC college of Medicine is no. 1 in the country in the high rate of recruitment and retention of African American and Latinos students in medical school.
-- Aida L. Giachello, PhD Associate Professor, UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work & Director, Midwest Latino Health Research Training and Policy Center

Let me express my feeling on the HCOE. In 1983 when I was a medical student and first elected president of the RAMA I wrote goals and objectives that to date are being shared by that same organization and most importantly HCOE. The HCOE with its Federal and University support and strong leadership like Dr. Girotti has exercised throughout the years, has lead to creating an avenue dedicated toward the enrichment of many Latino students. It has sensitized our university faculty toward accepting diversity and remains a vehicle for the advancement of young and old medical professionals alike. All this benefits our Raza, the one who needs us the most. I wish HCOE continued success. I applause your efforts for the enlightenment your agency gives to medical students, junior faculty members and community physicians. Your department is like a dream that became real. But with big dreams, struggle we must to keep it alive, hence we must never forget how we got to where we are today.
--Dr. Armando Marquez Jr., FACEP,UIC Emergency Medicine

The Center has helped me accomplish most if not all of my educational endeavors. Since I was an undergraduate, the staff at the Center was one of the few places that I could find support and relevant information regarding medical school admissions. Many counselors outside the HCOE did not support my choice to be physician but I can always find it there. As an undergraduate and medical student I attended lectures on leadership skills, financial aid for medical school, tips on getting into medical school and networked with many doctors, residents or medical students who were Latino also. All of these activities were organized by the HCOE. These experiences allowed me to see myself being a medical student, resident and eventually a physician. It was difficult to do this before because my family and friends were not at that educational level. The environment in the Center offers positivism, that challenges can be accomplished and that there is an opportunity for success. I am immeasurably grateful for the experiences and information the HCOE provided and I took full advantage of it.
--Dr. Steven Garzon, UIC Pathology