—Alejandro Gonzalez, HSF Scholarship Recipient.
Optimista/
The Optimist
For personifying limitless potential
Edgar Martinez is a respected doctor who is beloved by his family and patients. Born in Nicaragua, he and his six siblings were raised by their father after his mother passed away when Edgar was only one year old. This unfortunate passing, coupled with the experience of pulling his friends' bodies from the wreckage of a devastating earthquake as a 13-year-old, inspired him to pursue a career in medicine so he could help others.
Edgar arrived in the United States without knowing the language, but he was determined to learn English and did so quickly. While in high school, he worked odd jobs to financially contribute to the family. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Edgar saw this as a vehicle to pursue a higher education that was not affordable at the time. After completing his service, he began his educational path at East Los Angeles College.
He confronted many barriers, including being an older student and having a counselor discourage him from his dream. He was steadfast in his goal, transferring to California State University, Los Angeles and completing medical school at Michigan State University.
Today, Dr. Martinez has his own clinic in Huntington Park, a primarily Latino community, where he serves in family practice, sports medicine and geriatric medicine. A constant learner, he stays current with the medical field. He combines his knowledge with compassion for the individual to deliver the best service.
Dr. Martinez is a pioneer and inspiration in his community, where he mentors Latino medical students. The first in his family to earn a college degree, he has been proactive to ensure he is not the last. Currently, eleven family members have graduated college, including his son who is also pursuing a medical degree.
Click image above to see his story.