Dr. Sarah Inez Ramirez knows what it’s like to have access to healthcare stifled by a language barrier.
“I grew up in Jersey City, NJ,” Ramirez said. “In a city plagued by crime, low resources and lack of health insurance…I didn’t speak English until later in life.”
She eventually began translating for her Spanish-speaking mother at the doctor’s office.
“I was often angry at how she was being treated because she didn’t speak English,” Ramirez, of Harrisburg, said. “I vowed one day to be a doctor who knew what being on Medicaid and welfare felt like, knew what it was like to be looked at and judged.”
Today, Ramirez’s vision has blossomed immensely—she is a family medicine physician at Penn State Health and founder of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Hispanic Medical Association.
On Saturday, Ramirez introduced Reading to the culmination of her goal: Fiesta de la Salud, a free health clinic offering vital resources to Spanish-speaking community members.
She said she started the semi-annual event in Harrisburg last year.
“Communities in Pennsylvania with a high percentage of Latinos are on my list,” Ramirez said.
Volunteers at the clinic were busy performing tests for diabetes and blood pressure, mammographies, vaccinations, and other services.
Ramirez said some volunteers were non-English speaking medical professionals from other countries who have since learned English and are seeking medical positions in the U.S.
“They would traditionally end up in a factory (despite their medical skills) because they didn’t speak English,” Ramirez said of the volunteers. “But through organizations, they’ve learned English, become certified, are doing medical things.”
Andres Naranjo, a Cuban native and surgeon, was among the several skilled volunteers performing screenings.
Naranjo said he aims to graduate medical school and establish himself as a doctor in the U.S.
“I am preparing to pass my exam for medical school in the U.S.,” Naranjo said. “I am here today just to learn with others and help our community.”
Another volunteer, Dr. David Rabago, was handing out educational materials on behalf of Penn State Family Medicine.
“We do a lot of projects, we do educational outreach and clinical research,” Rabago said.
He said he was here to inform the community of the opportunity to take part in outreach-oriented research projects.
“Penn State family and community medicine is a big part of the (Reading) community,” Rabago said. “This is a natural place for us to be.”
Ramirez said about 500 people were expected to attend the event in Reading.
“I brought blood pressure machines and glucose machines that I’m giving out for free,” Ramires said.
Also among the resources on hand Saturday was a booklet listing doctors, dentists and mental health providers in Reading, along with bus routes showing how to get there.
In keeping with the theme of health, the event also gave away fruits and veggies for free.
Ramirez noted that Fiesta de la Salud has already helped some people uncover hidden health issues.
“In Harrisburg I found people with stroke-like blood pressures that were walking around, did not know they had hypertension, did not have a doctor,” Ramirez said. “I had people with blood sugar in the 500s walking around not knowing they had diabetes.”
She said she was able to teach those people how to use the free monitoring machines she gave out and had them connected with a doctor.
“For me, these are powerful tables,” Ramirez said of the blood pressure and diabetes screening areas.
Mayor Eddie Moran attended the event on behalf of the city of Reading, which co-sponsored Fiesta de la Salud.
“Sometimes we take for granted…the services that are being offered here today, that too many in our community don’t have,” Moran said. “We’re honored to be just a little bit of a part of a great event.”
Other sponsors included ViiV Healthcare, I-LEAD, Tower Health, Ascencia Diabetes Care, Berks Fire Water Restorations, Pennsylvania Dental Foundation, Latino Connection, PA Health & Wellness, Reach Cyber Charter School, Costco, Sam’s Club, Highmark, and Inspired.
Source: Berkshire mont
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