The Spark: Dr. Peter Ureste’s Unexpected Path to Medicine and Mentorship
There is no straightforward road to medicine and becoming a physician, and in the fifth episode of this season’s The Spark, hosts Chloe Sales (MS2) and Paul Brandfonbrener (MS1) are joined by Peter Ureste, MD, a psychiatrist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG), who shares his path to becoming the first physician in his family.
While stocking medical supplies at a dialysis clinic during a break from college, Dr. Ureste decided he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. During our conversation, we discuss the barriers that some non-traditional students face when pursuing careers in medicine, as well as how important it is to diversify the next generation of physicians.
Dr. Ureste also speaks to the importance of mentorship and his passion for mentoring future physicians at various stages of their training, including as a coach in the Clinical Microsystems Clerkship (CMC) program at UCSF. We then discuss Dr. Ureste’s work in the Anti-Oppression Curriculum Initiative (AOCI) and Physician Identity (PI) weeks, continuing to develop the Bridges Curriculum using an anti-racism and anti-oppressive lens.
Later, Dr. Ureste answers the featured question of this season of the podcast: “Where do you find joy, meaning, or purpose in your work?” and describes how he cares for himself while providing care for others.
There is so much to learn from Dr. Ureste’s reflections on his career to-date, and how he uses his own life experiences to support others. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with him.
Click the link below to listen to this episode and listen to the previous episodes if you haven’t already!
