Episode 67 - Dr. Andrea Otero Rios: Persevering Through Medical Training Setbacks and New Career Paths

In this episode, Dr. Rui Ariyapala speaks with Dr. Andrea Otero Rios. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Otero Rios is a first-generation doctor and has been part of several events in Puerto Rico, including Hurricane Maria, the 2021 earthquake, and COVID-19 relief efforts with the Puerto Rico National Guard. 

After finishing medical school Dr. Otero Rios became a Neurology Pre-Resident Intern at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Her interests include sports medicine, brain injury, pain management, lifestyle medicine, medical Spanish, and research. She is now in her second year as a resident in family medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - El Paso. We discussed her unique journey, where she overcame many challenges in the residency match process. She recommends every listener to read the book: “Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity” by Ronald Epstein. Dr. Otero Rios provides useful wellness tips for our listeners on how to have a positive mindset in the face of setbacks and adversity in medical training.