Top of the class doctor standard bearer

DOCTOR  Jerusalen Smith”  will be the standard bearer of the national flag in the November 3 Independecnce Parade.

The 24-year old Guna  recently completed her  medical studies at the University of Panama and took first place in the faculty, after following her mantra: “Dedication  is the key to achieving goals”

Her achievement was recognized by the President, Juan Carlos Varela, by designating her  as the standard bearer when Panama , celebrates  112 years of separation from Colombia.

Since childhood, Smith showed concerns about the medicine and when someone in her native Ailigandí got sick, she was always ready to give help.

She  also liked to study the natural sciences and do  research on the functioning of the human body.

She told La Prensa  that she decided to pursue a career in medicine when he was in the sixth year at Saint George School.

She  was one of the 2,500 students who attended the University of Panama in 2008 in search of a spot to enter the Faculty of Medicine, and in 2009 became one  of 200 selected students.

Six years later on  August 12 she  graduated with honors and is now on the staff of  Hospital del Nino.

“Reaching the goal was not easy. I had to take a preparatory course for months and sacrifice sleep and fun. “I had to prioritize my  activities, and confront  difficulties in some semesters,” she told La Prensa..

Chemistry was the most complicated matter, remember, because the carbon atoms and she did not get along.

“I had periods that I went crying to my dad was crying and wanted to get out of the race and study something else” she admitted.

Other subjects that caused headaches were Parasitology, the study of  parasites and their relationship with the host, especially with the human-being, and neuroanatomy studies  of the nervous system, but ultimately it did not represent major obstacles to a graduation with honors.

During her years in the faculty, she had a good relationship with They made trips to the Guna Yala regions  and taught them Guna words.

She said that she was never rejected by her peers. “Physicians provide a human service and attention to all alike,” she said.

Dr Smith plans to work in the region and create a foundation of multidisciplinary professionals to offer their services in remote parts of the country, for the purpose of educating people in basic health care, emergency management at home and the importance of  a balanced diet for the growth of children.

The doctor shows a  penchant for pediatrics and gastroenterology, but says it will make the decision after rotating  all specialties.

She is not the first Guna doctor. “There are many doctors. Ailigandí alone  has something like 10,” she said.

But coming top of the class took her by surprise, and she never thought she would have the honor of representing Panamanians on such an important date. “I am so proud,” she said.