As the first of my family to be born and raised in this country, I have long had an awareness of the interplay between stigma, culture, and health. Growing up in South Florida and coming from a culture where experiences of addiction and trauma are stigmatized and rarely discussed, I watched many loved ones struggle to access and find genuine support with issues they faced. These experiences opened my eyes to very real barriers to care and left me with the deep feeling that, in short, people deserve better. My involvement in community outreach while studying psychology in New York City led me to harm reduction.

Harm reduction, for me, signifies meaningful support, acceptance, and a path forward, no matter where someone may have been, is at, or wishes to go. Through personal and professional experiences, I have seen first-hand how non-judgmental support, access to information, and person-centered health resources can foster agency and empowerment. As a medical student and future physician, I am committed to upholding these values in relationships with my patients. I feel extremely proud to be involved with this dedicated team and to have the opportunity to support others in my community through harm reduction.