Juliet Pena

University of Arizona
Public Health Policy and Management
Graduate - Master of Public Health

Born and raised in Maryland by my mother from Paraguay and my father from Ecuador, I was exposed at an early age to the challenges of helping take care of someone with illness and later-onset disabilities. When I was only ten years old, my mother became very ill with Lyme’s disease and subsequent Systemic Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  As she was single at the time, I took on the responsibility of assisting my mother in her activities of daily living and errands, managing bills, grocery shopping, and eventually driving her to her doctors’ and hemodialysis appointments. Although my mother suffered a very debilitating health course, from spinal and hip surgeries to multiple infections and renal failure, I felt honored to be with her to her last day and continued my pursuit to go to medical school and ultimately earn an MD  (completed Dec 2012). My discovery of the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and humanitarian programs such as the affordable All Terrain Wheelchairs, has motivated me to become a stronger advocate for disabled individuals. As such, I hope to complete an internship in this area as I pursue an MPH. (I will be starting my medical residency in July 2013.)