Neighbor News
First DACA Medical School Graduates Honored May 4th in Hinsdale
TEACH holds an event to honor first-ever DACA graduates from Loyola Stritch Medical School and to recognize professor who changed the system
The first graduating class of DACA (Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals) students from the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine will be honored on Friday, May 4th , 2018 at the Community House in Hinsdale. Six medical student graduates and Dr. Mark Kuczewski will receive the Cultural Unity Award presented by TEACH (Tutoring English to Advance Change), formerly School and Tutors on Wheels.
These six young men and women, while born in different countries, know only the U.S. as their home. Each has a story of hard work and overcoming challenges to fulfill their dream of becoming physicians and giving back to their communities.
Rosa Aramburo recalls the lone nurse that came to provide healthcare to her family’s whole village and surrounding communities. From this experience, she knew that she would be a doctor one day, helping underserved communities. “I wanted to help families like mine who come here for a better life and, because they can’t get health insurance, they don’t get the medical care they need.”
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But it was all but impossible for DACA recipients to attend medical school. Johana Meijas talks about her frustration as a pre-med student at the University of Colorado. “Every day I received emails for post-graduate opportunities in healthcare. I knew I wasn’t eligible because of my status, so I couldn’t even apply. But I still read through each email, hoping that there was one that would accept me.”
Dr. Mark Kuczewski, Professor of Medical Ethics and Chair of Medical Education at Stritch, was passionate about just and equal opportunities for immigrants. “As I saw the inequity in the system that prevented these gifted students from making a difference in the world, I knew that my vocation was to contribute to changing the system.” Because of his tireless determination, the admission policy was revised and, in 2013, one year after DACA was enacted, Stritch became the first medical school in the nation to welcome DACA applicants.
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Still, admission to medical school did not make the dream a reality for the DACA students. Aaima Sayed, despite her medical school achievements, encountered another obstacle preventing her achieving the dream to become a psychiatrist. With graduation fast approaching, she received few requests for residency interviews because the end of DACA might mean that she could no longer stay in the U.S., her home.
Aaima was not optimistic. “Why would a residency program, with so many qualified applicants, want to accept someone who might have to leave the country at any time? I had worked so hard. I was hoping to get more interviews. I was so disappointed.”
Fortunately, through their self-advocacy and that of many allies, the six students have done what they thought they could not: they are graduating from medical school and, in March, were accepted to residency programs. But the journey and struggle continue. Their work permits are valid for two years and there is no obvious way to renew them in the absence of congressional action.
TEACH is honoring these six DACA applicants for succeeding by never giving up on their dreams. On May 4th, Everado Arias, Rosa Aramburo, Diana Andino, Manuel Bernal, Johana Mejias-Beck and Aaima Sayed will receive the Cultural Unity Award. Because of his passion to have equal opportunities for all, Dr. Mark Kuczewski will also be recognized with the Cultural Unity Award.
About TEACH
TEACH (Tutoring English to Advance Change), founded in 1993 as School and Tutors on Wheels by the Congregation of St. Joseph, works toward systemic change in society by empowering English language learners to build their strengths and effective use of their voice. Through a unique integration of practical one-on-one English literacy education and mentoring. TEACH works to ensure the inclusion of those excluded, under-represented or undervalued.
In 2018, the name was changed to TEACH to reflect it vision for the future. TEACH’s 17 sites serve over 40 communities in Western Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties. The Congregation of St. Joseph continues to sponsor TEACH’s service to the community.
For more information, contact:
Constantine Bitsas, Executive Director
cbitsas@schoolandtutorsonwheels.org
TEACH
100 S. 6th Ave.
La Grange, IL 60525
www.TEACHempowers.org
