International Healthcare Professionals Challenge

JR Rodriguez CRNP, International Medical Graduate, Healthcare Professional

My story begins in Cuba, where I graduated from medical school in 2012. But when I came to the United States in March 2015, the life I had built was left behind. With little money, no connections, and barely any English, I found myself standing at the edge of an unknown future. The harsh reality quickly set in—survival came first. My wife became pregnant almost immediately, and we were crammed into a small, dilapidated studio apartment. It wasn’t just the space that was suffocating, but the weight of uncertainty. Our daughter was born into those humble surroundings, and I knew I had no choice but to work.

I took any job I could find: nurse's aide, Lowe's driver, Uber, Amazon deliveries, car salesman—you name it, I did it. Each role pushed me further away from the career I once had, but it also sharpened my determination. Every package I delivered, every car I sold, was a reminder of where I had come from—and where I was meant to be.

Then, fate intervened. One day, I crossed paths with Dr. Weber, a man who would change everything. He was teaching Medical English as a Second Language (ESL). I had brushed off the idea of attending at first, thinking my English had improved enough. But when Dr. Weber and I finally met, something inside me stirred. He asked what I had done in Cuba, and I replied with words that I hadn’t spoken in what felt like a lifetime: “I was a doctor.”

That moment reignited a flame in me—a fire that was almost extinguished. Dr. Weber connected me with the Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon (LCLL), where I met extraordinary people like Cheryl Hiester, Jane Myers, and Steve Hess. These remarkable individuals, with their boundless generosity and belief in my potential, helped me find my way back to healthcare. Their support was the lifeline I needed as I embarked on a new chapter, earning my RN to BSN degree from Penn State.

Today, I am not just a survivor of circumstance—I am a Registered Nurse with a master’s degree, ready to become a healthcare provider. Along the way, I have learned some invaluable lessons: to always believe in myself, even when the path ahead seems impossible; to not be afraid of failure, because every challenge is a stepping stone to growth; and most importantly, to never, never, never give up, because with persistence, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how dark it may seem, hope is always there.