A Chat with Anapatricia Maldonado Cerda, MD

In this episode, I chat with Anapatricia Maldonado Cerda, MD, a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Ana bravely shares her inspiring story of facing setbacks by not matching in ophthalmology in the previous application cycle and what she has done to overcome it.    We discuss how processing that experience felt in that moment and how she got back on her feet with her loved ones' support. Ana describes how she pivoted to spark her comeback for this current cycle and the advice she has for anyone who might face a similar outcome down the road. We talk about how she boosted her application and confidence through pre-residency research fellowships. Finally, we discuss how the interview trail differed this year in the virtual format compared to the previous cycle where she and others traveled for onsite interviews.   Thank you, Ana, for reminding us all that self-worth is not attached to a professional outcome or title and that life is about how you respond when the chips are down. If you would like to contact Ana and learn more, email her at [email protected]