Her noble efforts landed her a seat at the foundation’s board
Texas Border Business
Eighteen-year-old Andrea Espinoza from Sharyland High school and an intern at DHR Health System has made history. During the summer of 2019, she applied for an internship with the school, and she was the sole student to be selected in the entire district to do an internship with DHR Health System.
She told Mega Doctor News that while she was there, she was exposed to elderly patients and realized that she needed to do something to help. “I felt like it was my duty to raise awareness for elderly citizens in my community.”
Andrea was convinced that DHR was indeed the place where she needs to be. “They helped me with my experience to further my education in the health field, and I became inspired.”
She spoke to her father, telling him that she wanted to raise funds to benefit the DHR Cancer Foundation. “Ok, you need a game plan. What are you going to do? And how are you going to do it?” her father said.
He pointed out to her that what she was planning to do was more serious than ordering a pizza.
Andrea is a senior at Sharyland High School. She is active in doing varsity track and involved in her school. “I’m the president of Leadership, Experience, and Opportunity, L E O Club,” she said. This is a community service-based organization focusing solely on community service.
She is also the vice president for Health Occupation Students of America (HOST) that has to do with the medical field.
“I compete in public health, making presentations about public health.” She said, “This year we are covering opioids. It’s a huge epidemic that’s going on now.” Their performance lets them advance to state competitions and, hopefully, as she says nationally.
Andrea is aiming to attend Texas A&M University in college Station, with plans to major in biomedical science and then premed.
She had a jam-packed summer, while DHR officials were astonished by her performance. “It was not me; it was my team,” Andrea credits.
She said that her original goal was to raise five thousand dollars, and at the end of the project, she brought $21,177.00 to the table.
Dr. Carlos Cardenas, Chairman of the board at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, was elated with Andrea’s fundraising results.
He said, “That’s amazing. I think that it’s this spirit that forms the glue that keeps the community together.” He continued, “It makes it possible for us to help care for folks who would not otherwise have the opportunity or the ability to receive the care that they so much need.”
He added that he saw it as another affirmation of the strength in our young people and their commitment to serve their community.
Carla is Andrea’s older sister; she is 22 and already graduated from Texas A&M. She wants to be a physical therapist. “I’m proud of her and she wants to do more than work for the health care field. At such a young age, she is already putting her patients as a priority and helping others in need,” Carla said.
