“I don’t remember a time I wanted to be anything else.”
Ricardo Santiago grew up in a small rural community in Oaxaca, Mexico. His childhood healthcare came from a modest local clinic staffed by rotating volunteers. Two of those visiting doctors, Dr. Pacheco and Dr. Aguilar, became early role models. “They inspired me to do the same. To serve. To use medicine to help others.”
That seed never left.
Growing up, Ricardo also cared for his grandfather, who had diabetes. “From a young age, I was helping him take his blood sugar and reminding him to take his insulin.”
In September 2021, while pursuing his master’s in public health at the University of Arizona, Ricardo began volunteering at the Neighborhood Christian Clinic. He started as an interpreter, helping patients communicate with doctors. Before long, he was cross-trained in nursing support and the medication room. His commitment grew, and eventually he joined the Clinic’s Gap Year program.
“That experience changed everything for me. I was working three shifts a week, side-by-side with the care team. Dr. Paul was so patient in explaining not just what to do, but why. I learned how to treat patients with dignity, humility, and faith.”
Dr. Paul’s influence on Ricardo was both personal and professional. Ricardo recalls how willing Dr. Paul was to teach—not just procedures, but the deeper meaning behind the care they were providing.
That approach shaped Ricardo’s perspective on what it means to lead with compassion.
“I wrote about the Clinic and the power of servant leadership I witnessed from Dr. Paul and the other providers. It was so meaningful for me. Everything I learned here—I hope to implement as a future doctor.”
Through the Clinic, Ricardo saw how spiritual care could be integrated into clinical care. He also saw how access to basic medical resources—like insulin—could change lives. “It’s amazing that the Clinic is able to provide medications that patients couldn’t otherwise afford. It reminded me of my grandfather—and how many people still struggle to get what they need.” It was new. And it resonated.
“Before this, I never really thought about combining faith with medicine. But here, I saw how prayer, compassion, and presence could be part of the healing process. It strengthened my own faith.”
He recalls one unforgettable moment—translating a lung cancer diagnosis for a patient. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say out loud.” Though he didn’t pray with that patient in the moment, he and his family prayed for the patient later that evening. “At the Clinic, patients receive more than medical care. They receive spiritual care, too.”
This fall, Ricardo will begin medical school on scholarship at UCLA. He credits the Clinic as a turning point in his journey.
“I started to get comfortable. I was working, earning, settling. But the Clinic reminded me of my dream—to become a doctor and serve my community. It gave me momentum. And Dr. Paul even wrote one of my recommendation letters.”
When asked if his time at the Clinic helped his application stand out, Ricardo didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely. I wrote about NCC as my most meaningful experience. I shared how servant leadership, spiritual integration, and whole-person care changed my perspective on what kind of doctor I want to be.”
His family, especially his mother, is thrilled. “We have dinner together most nights. It’ll be an adjustment, being away. But they’re so proud. And I’m grateful.”
As Ricardo prepares to leave Arizona, he isn’t saying goodbye.
“I hope to come back and volunteer as a doctor someday. This place helped shape who I am. I want to give back.”
Want to meet another future healer shaped by the Clinic? Read Ruthanne’s story—from masked volunteer to medical student on mission.
