The Empty File – Medical Social Worker Laura Castañeda

Not everyone enters medicine by chance. He arrived with a clear destiny from the beginning — and did not stop until he fulfilled it. Who he is and what he does Dr. Cruz is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. His specialty covers the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries, traumas, and deformities of the mouth and face. On a daily basis, a significant part of his work involves wisdom tooth surgeries — but where his passion truly lies is in facial cosmetic surgery. It's a field that combines technical precision with artistic sensitivity. Every face is different, every case has its own complexity, and the margin of error is minimal. For someone who loves what they do, that is not a burden — it's exactly what keeps him alert and motivated every day. Why he chose this path This truly was a lifelong dream — and a very specific one. Dr. Cruz learned about the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery very early on. It wasn't a career he discovered by accident or a last-minute decision. From the moment he knew it existed, he knew it was what he wanted to do. That led him to study dentistry with a clear objective from day one: to become a maxillofacial surgeon. A long, demanding path that required years of training and residency. But he never doubted the direction. "I was always focused on wanting to become a maxillofacial surgeon." What he believes about his work For Dr. Cruz, the most valuable aspect of his profession has a very precise image: a patient who arrives in intense pain, and who leaves without it after treatment. That relief — immediate, tangible, visible on the patient's face — is what makes every surgery worthwhile. There is no more honest description of why he does what he does. And on how to stay energized in such a demanding job, his answer is simple: "If you love what you do, you'll never get tired of doing it." Good habits help — sleeping well, eating healthily, the indispensable coffee. But the real fuel is passion. And that doesn't run out. The moment he won't forget It was during his residency. One of his first major cases: a man with parotid cancer, operated on in conjunction with the oncology team. The diagnosis was serious. The family had almost lost hope. The surgery went well. Very well. And that man, who arrived given up for lost, regained hope. He resumed his life. And to this day, he still seeks out Dr. Cruz — not for a consultation, but to greet him, thank him, and let him know he's doing well. That kind of call, that message that arrives years later, is confirmation that the chosen path was worth every sacrifice. Where he's headed and what he tells those starting out In ten years, Dr. Cruz envisions himself achieving the goals he is currently pursuing — and already thinking about the next ones. Because for someone who set a destination for himself as a child and didn't stop until he reached it, standing still is not an option. He has a short and meaningful message for his future self: "Don't change that mindset." And for anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps in this specialty — or any demanding path — the advice is clear: Focus. Be disciplined. Surround yourself with people who contribute to you. And above all, stop looking to the sides to compare yourself with others. The only rival that matters is your past self. "The competition is with yourself."

He didn't choose this profession from a book or a career fair. He learned it by watching his father work, year after year, until the trade became his own. @jorgeluisChiropractor · Private Practice Who he is and what he does Jorge Luis is a chiropractor. His job is to perform adjustments that help alleviate physical discomfort — back, hips, knees, ankles — restoring the body's balance that it sometimes loses due to stress, posture, or time. It's a manual, precise job that requires both technical knowledge and the sensitivity to understand what each body needs. And it's a job Jorge Luis knows from the inside, long before practicing it professionally. Why he chose this path The answer is both simple and profound: his dad. From a young age, Jorge Luis grew up watching his father work in chiropractic. It wasn't a decision made in a vocational guidance office — it was something that built up over the years, observing, accompanying, learning without anyone telling him he was learning. Over time, what began as admiration turned into a vocation. He realized he couldn't imagine himself in any other profession. And that he wanted to make what his father had built his own. "Watching my dad work in this, I liked it. And well, I couldn't see myself in any other profession." But Jorge Luis didn't stop there. In addition to chiropractic, he studied for a bachelor's degree in educational intervention. Today, along with his wife, he is studying radiology — a specialty that directly complements his clinical practice. When they finish, they're already thinking about what's next. For him, studying isn't a stage — it's a way of life. What he believes about his work For Jorge Luis, the measure of good work is concrete: if you do it well, patients recommend you. And those recommendations bring more patients. The work speaks for itself — no need for advertising, no shortcuts. "Your work speaks for itself. And thanks to this, I have many patients." This philosophy has led him to have a full schedule. But beyond the volume of work, what he values most is something different: the possibility of helping those who need it most. The moments he remembers most are not the most complex cases or the most well-known patients. They are the people who arrived in real pain and without money to pay for the consultation — and whom he treated anyway. Those moments, he says, are the most gratifying of his career. Where he's headed and what he tells those starting out In ten years, Jorge Luis envisions bigger offices, and something he's particularly excited about: working alongside his family. His wife, who is now studying radiology with him. His brother-in-law, who just graduated as a doctor. His sister-in-law, who will soon be a dentist. A family team that is slowly forming to, perhaps, build a clinic together. It's a vision that combines the professional with the personal in a way that makes a lot of sense coming from someone whose vocation was born precisely from watching his father work. For anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps, the message is direct: Discipline, perseverance, and study. If you truly like something, you'll do it. But great things don't just happen — you have to have clear goals and work for them every day. "Great things are not achieved by just trying hard at nothing. You have to have goals in life, and that will help you fully enjoy your work."

Working in pediatric oncology is one of the hardest things there is. And also, one of the most beautiful. Silvia knows this better than anyone. @silvia_super_starPediatric Nurse · Pediatric Hospital · Oncology Who she is and what she does Silvia is a registered nurse who works at a pediatric hospital. Her job, in her own words, is to care for all the little ones who need medical attention to improve their health and go home soon. Said like that, it sounds simple. But anyone who knows pediatric nursing knows that behind that sentence are long nights, difficult cases, and an emotional strength that isn't learned in any book. Why she chose this path As a child, Silvia wanted to be a veterinarian or a dentist. She always knew she wanted to be in healthcare — but nursing wasn't what she had in mind at first. It was when she started her degree and experienced her first year from the inside that something changed. What she found there, she hadn't found anywhere else. And from that moment on, she says, she couldn't leave it. "When I discovered nursing and spent my first year in that career, I couldn't leave it." What she believes about her job For Silvia, the most valuable part of her job has a very concrete image: a patient who comes in through the emergency room or intensive care, and who day by day, week by week, slowly improves — until the moment comes when they leave the hospital completely healthy, having won the battle against a serious illness. Accompanying that process from beginning to end, being there for every small advance, is what gives meaning to every shift. And there's something else she values about this profession, something not everyone sees this way: the satisfaction of being where no one else wants to be. Of knowing that her presence matters precisely because that place is difficult. "It fills you with a lot of satisfaction when you know you are in a place where no one else wants to be." The moment she won't forget It was in oncology. An area that, visually, is difficult. The children know it. Their families know it. And those who work there know it too. But Silvia wanted her patients to feel something else. One night, the children started imagining scenarios — as children do, with that ability to transform any place into whatever the mind desires. That night they wanted tents. Silvia took sheets and built their little houses. Crib by crib, she improvised a small different world within those walls. And the children, on their own, found a way to communicate with each other: paper cups and string, like homemade telephones stretched between one bed and another. That night they spent laughing. "Every night they spent laughing, happy, and for me that was very, very beautiful." In pediatric oncology, a night like that is not forgotten. How she keeps going With honesty and no complicated formulas: two liters of coffee are mandatory, plus some sweets to maintain energy on night shifts. There's no more glamorous ritual than that — and it works. But beyond the caffeine, what truly sustains her is knowing why she's there. That, in the most difficult moments, is worth more than any rest. Where she's going and what she tells newcomers In ten years, Silvia imagines herself in the exact same place: in a hospital, caring for her children, giving them the best possible attention. Perhaps with a specialization that allows her to delve deeper into the quality of care her patients can receive. But always close to them. What she would tell her future self is simple and profound at the same time: thank you for not giving up. For keeping that spark that, over the years and with wear and tear, sometimes extinguishes in those who practice this profession. And for anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps, the advice is clear: Do it. It's a beautiful career, full of activity, purpose, unforgettable moments. You'll never get bored. But also prepare yourself internally — because what you experience in here is sometimes tough, and you have to be ready for that too. "You have to strengthen yourself mentally. What you experience in here is sometimes a bit tough, but you can do it."