Jennifer Uyere / International Medical Graduates

Dr. Gloria Wu and Jennifer Ouyari, a third-year international medical student, discuss women's health and the challenges faced by international medical graduates (IMGs) in the U.S. healthcare system. Ouyari shares her unconventional path to medical school, having worked for seven years as a clinical laboratory scientist before pursuing her dream of becoming a physician. Despite challenges, particularly as an IMG, she remains determined and actively seeks out opportunities to gain clinical experience and research exposure. Ouyari calls for more support and inclusivity for IMGs in medical programs, noting the important role they can play in addressing the physician shortage, especially during crises like COVID-19. Ouyari, who is half Mexican and half Nigerian, highlights the importance of linguistic and cultural competence in healthcare, especially in communities with high Latino populations. She emphasizes the need for more Spanish-speaking and culturally aware physicians, particularly in states like California, where the Latino population is significant but underrepresented in healthcare. Ouyari reflects on her clerkship in Las Vegas, where she frequently helps Latino patients by providing care in their native language. She hopes to inspire future generations to pursue careers in medicine and is committed to improving healthcare access in underserved communities.