Going into medical school there were a couple of things that I had clear: I liked asking questions and I liked being able to help others answer their questions. I enjoyed the feeling I got when I was able to answer a question for myself. It was like I was able to restore some control in my life, which at times felt out of my hands as a Hispanic immigrant in the United States.

When I started my journey into medicine, I tried to keep an open mind about what specialty I wanted to pursue, but it was a question that led me to urology. It was during my summer after my first year of medical school that I worked on my first research project in the department of urogynecology. It was here that I discovered how much satisfaction research could provide. A space where I could ask all the questions I wanted and then find methods to answer them for myself. My summer project was titled, “Optimization of Suture Attachment for Fascia Sacral Colpopexy Using an Animal Model.” While working on this project I realized I had a good understanding of gynecology, but as a first-generation medical student I had not heard much about the field of urology. The question for me then became, “What exactly does a urologist do?” It was this question that landed me in the urology resident room at Dartmouth Health at the end of my summer before starting my second year of medical school. During my time shadowing the residents, I got the opportunity to explore many aspects of urology from prostatectomies, nephrolithotomies, and eventually to the sexual dysfunction clinic with Dr Martin Gross.

I didn’t realize it at that moment, but he would become an important mentor for me, not just in urology, but also in my growing interest in research. After spending some time in his clinic, I was reminded of the other thing I had clear coming into medical school: the feeling you get when you are able to answer a question for another person. This is what Dr Gross was doing in his clinic every day—not only was he answering questions, but he also was able to provide solutions. It was here that I realized something else that I had clear: I enjoyed when an answer could improve not just the quantity of someone’s life, but also the quality of someone’s life. It was this realization that brought urology to the forefront for me as a potential specialty.

With the help of Dr Gross, I began to learn about the research to be done in urology, especially in the field of sexual medicine. I got to work answering research questions that I hoped would be directly applicable in the clinic for patients. I worked with Dr Gross and other medical students on a few abstracts, including “NIH Funding Trends for Men’s and Women’s Urologic Conditions.” Dr Gross taught me a lot about exploring topics to research, creating a research project, and how to navigate the hoops of research.

Starting my third year of medical school, I found that research took a bit of a back seat. I felt like there was still so much more I wanted to do. I started to consider the possibility of taking an academic scholar year to further answer the research questions I had crafted with Dr Gross, but also further pursue the question of “What does a urologist do?” This brought me right back to where I was as a first-year medical student in Dr Gross’s office with a question. He then introduced me to Dr Mohit Khera at Baylor College of Medicine, who was also involved in the field of sexual medicine. He happened to have a position available for a yearlong research fellowship position for medical students. I applied for and received the position, and I was ecstatic not only to be back in my home city, but also for the opportunity to dedicate a year to conduct research.

In the middle of my third year, I received an email from one of the residents who works with Dr Khera, Dr Sagar Patel, who mentioned The Boston Scientific Medical Student Innovation Fellowship Award and suggested that I consider applying. Seeing what the Urology Care Foundation was doing to better support and increase diversity within the field of urology was exciting, especially the possibility of being a part of it. I was looking forward to creating a project that would allow me to work with a population I grew up with and that at times may be neglected in the medical field. With the help and support of Dr Khera we got to work creating the project and filling out the application.

When I learned that I was awarded the fellowship, I was in shock. I could not explain how excited I was not only to have funding to pursue my research, but also to know that the project I will be working on, “Real Time Non-invasive Monitoring of Erectile Dysfunction for Hispanic Men Receiving Testosterone Replacement Therapy,” would bring me back to what drew me to medicine in the first place. Furthermore, I would get to do so with the community that saw me grow up into the person I am today. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity and am looking forward to learning more about the field and research with some amazing mentorship and support from the urological community.