dfd (Photo courtesy TK)
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Our Stories Getting Back to a Better Normal By Argentina E. Servin, M.D., MPH Director, Bachelor of Science in Public Health, UC San Diego
n November of 2020, my grandfather was diagnosed with COVID. A vaccine was not yet available and it became a very difficult time for our family. Hospitals were at maximum capacity; we could not find one with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that would admit him because of the scarcity of ventilators and due to his age. Priority was given to younger patients. It was stressful, but we finally found a bed for him. He remained in the ICU for nearly four months. We are fortunate he survived.
Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Public Health, UC San Diego School of Medicine
Dr. Servin’s grandfather with great-grandchildren – 2021 (Photo courtesy Argentina E. Servin, MD)
Argentina E. Servin, MD, MPH Principal Investigator Project 2VIDA! (Photo courtesy Argentina E. Servin, MD)
My Life Purpose Since the age of 12, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I am a first-generation Latina born in the U.S. and the first in my family to attend college. My career path was a result of a sickly childhood, my family’s limited access to healthcare, and my desire to help others. My grandfather’s experience and similar experiences over the years contributed substantially to my interest in addressing health disparities. One point that was unsettling for me during the pandemic was that as the vaccines became available, nobody in my family was willing to get vaccinated.
UC San Diego School of Medicine’s 2VIDA! COVID-19 Vaccination Education Mobile Clinic in partnership with San Ysidro Health – August 20, 2021 (Photo courtesy UC San Diego School of Medicine)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 8 – Facing COVID-19
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