Intercultural Fluency

By Frances Alicea

This summer, there are three main things I’m excited to try or accomplish: getting to connect with patients or community members in a meaningful way, working hands-on with research related to healthcare disparities, and learning more about how social factors impact health. These goals matter to me personally and professionally; they align with what I’m passionate about and help me move closer to my long-term goals in medicine and mental health.

First, I really want to connect with people, whether it’s patients at a clinic or participants in a research study. I’ve always been interested in the human side of healthcare, and being able to listen to people’s stories and experiences is something I value deeply. I think it’s important to hear directly from those who are affected by the issues we’re studying or working to improve. These personal connections are what remind me why I want to go into medicine in the first place.

Second, I’m looking forward to being more involved in research, especially research that focuses on underserved or marginalized communities. I’m currently working on a project through UROP about healthcare access for veterans from underrepresented backgrounds, so this summer is a chance for me to build on that work. I want to explore new ways of looking at data, asking questions, and thinking critically about the bigger picture. It’s exciting to think that the work I’m doing now could help shape how I approach medicine in the future.

Third, I want to better understand how things like income, race, education, and even zip code can affect someone’s health. I’ve learned about social determinants of health in classes, but I think there’s a big difference between learning about them in theory and actually seeing how they play out in real life. Being part of a summer program where I get to observe and interact with people dealing with these challenges will make me more aware, and hopefully more effective, as a future doctor.

As far as skills go, I really want to focus on improving my critical thinking and intercultural fluency. Critical thinking is something I’ve been developing through school, but applying it outside the classroom, like in a clinical or research setting, is a whole different level. Whether I’m problem-solving during research or thinking through a patient’s situation, I want to get better at looking at things from all angles and making thoughtful decisions.

Intercultural fluency is also super important to me. I want to be someone who can communicate with people from all different backgrounds and make them feel heard and respected. This summer gives me a great opportunity to practice that, especially if I’m working in diverse settings. It’s a skill I’ll use every single day in medicine, and honestly, just in life.

Overall, this summer will help me grow, not just as a student, but as a person who wants to make a real difference.

A song that encapsulates how I am feeling is “Modern Love” by David Bowie. This is because it’s an upbeat song, and the message is not to let anything drag you down.