What it means to be a doctor in the United States and Cuba is both very different and subjective. There is no way to compare the two countries’ healthcare systems effectively and fairly.
However, there are obvious differences that are worth learning and analyzing. “Medical school students [in the United States] typically borrow more than $150,000 in loans over four years,” Lauren Sausser writes in the Post and Courier. The article goes on to say this is a reason why, “fewer of them apply to lower-paying, primary care positions in rural parts of the country after graduation.”
This trip has been a time for self-reflection and self-discovery. As a public relations student with the intent to pursue medical school, this trip has made me rethink all my own biases, beliefs, and intentions of becoming a doctor. Dr. Sandy Borroto Felds mentions, “There is a special type of calling to be a doctor,” because primary care physicians in Cuba work very closely and actively with their community.
How does one draw the line between altruism and profit, passion and career, or perhaps in other words, purpose and creating a living? Does there have to be a line? This trip has created more questions than answers; though, that has given rise to a greater interest to explore this area of healthcare.
I am interested in learning more about how Cuban’s healthcare system treats their doctors, if there are high burnout or turnover rates, and the quality of their education and care. Many of the guest speakers we have talked with, whether it is about healthcare, journalism, or Cuba in general, have covered the benefits.
I would like to further explore the challenges both doctors and journalists go through in Cuba, as well as ways to combat these aspects.
