Ana Melgoza
San Ysidro Health
San Ysidro, CA USA
"Sigue tus sueños mas grandes; juntos podemos. Si se puede! [Follow your biggest dreams; we can do it together. We can do it!]"
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Ana's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Medicine, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I wanted to explore and have enriching experiences through college but wasn't sure how to explain to my parents—going out on my own went against the way of life they were used to. When I was awarded a work-study opportunity in Washington D.C., I waited until the night before to tell my mom I was leaving. She didn't react well. After I left, my parents came to visit me and they loved it! They realized that I was in fact making good decisions for myself rather than just denying their teachings.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Global Studies
Rockhurst University
Graduate Degree
Public Administration
Baruch School of Public Affairs
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I’m the daughter of Mexican immigrants—my parents came to Kansas City, Missouri, from Jalisco, Mexico.
2.
My parents weren’t able to further their own education, so they instilled a lot of value and drive in my siblings and me to pursue our educations.
3.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in global studies with a minor in Spanish—I also spent time studying in Argentina, which was a great experience for me to explore and grow as a person.
4.
I came back to Kansas City and started working in government.
5.
I eventually decided to go to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in public administration.
6.
While in graduate school, I worked as a senior health program officer for the Medtronic Foundation, a medical technology company focused on improving access to healthcare for underserved people.
7.
I joined San Ysidro Health in 2005 as the director of public affairs and government health.
8.
After eight years, I was promoted to vice president of external affairs, helping to fulfill San Ysidro Health’s mission of providing accessible and affordable health care services to all.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
You can't leave to work and study in a different state! Are you crazy? You can get hurt. You're not following what we've taught you.
How I responded:
I wanted to explore and have enriching experiences through college but wasn't sure how to explain to my parents—going out on my own went against the way of life they were used to. When I was awarded a work-study opportunity in Washington D.C., I waited until the night before to tell my mom I was leaving. She didn't react well. After I left, my parents came to visit me and they loved it! They realized that I was in fact making good decisions for myself rather than just denying their teachings.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
My parents were not able to further their own educations but they urged my siblings and I to do so. I applied for scholarships and leaned on support and advice from my professors to help me through college.