Hello! My name is Joriene Mercado and I’m entering my fourth and final year at Stanford University. I’m majoring in Human Biology with Interdisciplinary Honors in Education. My coursework and honors research focus on race, ethnicity, and mental health, specifically among Filipino-Americans. Unlike the other fellows Allison and William, I no longer want to become a doctor. I originally wanted to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist and provide culturally sensitive services to minority communities. Now, I aspire to become a college professor in the social sciences and teach about my interests while empowering my students to effect genuine social change. Although I’m not pursuing a career in medicine, VIA MED has been a perfect opportunity for me to teach topics I’m passionate about and facilitate cross-cultural discussions. Only a week has passed, but I’m confident it’ll be a worthwhile experience.
I’ve had so many memorable experiences, from the student presentations, fascinating lectures, and conversations with the students. However, the most memorable has been my Global Health Fellow Presentation on LGBTQ+ Health Issues. I’m no expert on this topic, but my family background led me to delivering this presentation. As a son of same-sex parents, I understand the importance of sharing my story, especially to students from Asia because of how uncommon it is for same-sex couples to have children. I was honestly quite nervous to present on this topic because it’s a very controversial issue, and I wasn’t sure how the students would respond. They quelled my worries as I received such positive feedback. They were actively engaged throughout the presentation and shared great insights and questions. Some of my favorite aspects of the students is how open-minded and inquisitive they are. They are so fit for a program like VIA MED because they are exposed to various social issues within healthcare and medicine that are contentious in their home regions. Being open-minded is important when engaging in discussions like ones on the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, I was happy to see the discussion extend outside of the presentation, and I hope they bring this discussion back to their homes. This presentation was a proud teacher moment for me, and I’ll continue to savor that feeling throughout and beyond the program.
One special aspect of the program is how much time we get with the students, something I won’t have as a professor. Our time spent outside of lectures, presentations, and discussions consists of both fun and intellectually stimulating conversations with the students. I’ve had quite a few memorable conversations with the students this past week. I spoke to Neil, a student who grew up in Singapore and now studies in Taiwan, about postcolonial psychology, a topic I’m very passionate about. I’ve only studied Filipino and Filipino-American postcolonial psychology, so I was so fortunate to learn about his perspectives on the histories of colonization in his home regions. We also took a critical approach to design thinking and discussed the importance of recognizing intent versus impact. I’ve also had fascinating conversations about public health with Keita, a student from Japan. When I wanted to become a doctor, I wished to fuse my interests in psychiatry and public health to improve the livelihood of marginalized communities. I’m happy to see someone like Keita, who is keen on health disparities, pursuing this interdisciplinary path. Neil, Keita, and many other students have broadened my perspectives, and I hope I broadened theirs. I would love to have more meaningful conversations throughout the program with more students. And I cannot forget the fun conversations as well. I cannot think of a time when Winston hasn’t made me laugh. For example, he compared the design of his school to a toilet bowl. That’s something I’ll never forget.
I’m overjoyed to have joined the VIA MED team. It has been such a memorable and enriching experience so far, and it’s only the end of week one.
