I come from Colombia, South America, I work in Dumfries and Galloway. I am the Appraisal Lead for Primary Care and the Associate Medical Director for Primary Care.
When I was living and working in Colombia I often found it difficult, as I could not provide the service and care that I could to patients. In NHS Scotland, that’s not the case, in terms of being able to provide care and support to every person that comes across, doesn’t matter who they are and where they come from. That’s something that really makes me proud and makes me motivated to work.
One of the things that really made me want to become a general practitioner was the opportunity to really get to know people, and get to know their family and the community. You can see them growing and developing, and you remember them from babies to now they are becoming teenagers and they are changing, and you see how their needs change and how you change your relationship with them, and I really value and treasure that from the opportunity that I have as a general practitioner. No other speciality gives you the opportunity that general practice offers you to really see people growing and developing.
During my training and through my career I have been involved with many local projects and national projects to try to improve patient care. I am now involved with education: at the moment we have here in Dumfries and Galloway the ScotGEM students for six week-long placements. I’m trying to really focus on the next generation in terms of how do we keep producing the doctors that we need for the future.
We have been in Dumfries and Galloway for the last 15 years, we truly enjoy living here. Scotland has been very welcoming to me and my family; the sense of freedom and, actually, the lovely scenery we have around here. You just go outside and you feel in a postcard. And it was a big change for me, but actually, for the best.
Working as a GP in Scotland has really allowed me to do the job I dreamed of, since I was a little girl I wanted to become a doctor. I actually dreamed of being able to care and support people and make a difference, and Scotland has given me that opportunity. It does feel like I make a difference when I go to work every day. It also gave me the opportunity to raise my family here, and to treat everyone, doesn’t matter what, and give them the care and support that they need.