A first-generation Ecuadorian American hospitalist reflects on experiences that led him to medicine. 

Dr. Marco Proaño knows firsthand the healing power of language.  

“The majority of physicians in the U.S. only speak English, and whenever you encounter a patient who does not, many important details can be lost in translation – even with an interpreter,” he said.  

Dr. Proaño recently shared with NJ Advance Media’s Daysi Calavia-Robertson how excited patients become when they learn he not only speaks Spanish but will also be the one treating them as a hospitalist at Virtua Mount Holly Hospital. 

“It’s like they almost instantly ease up and feel more comfortable because they know that I’m Latino, too, that I speak their language, that because of my background, I get it,” he told Calavia-Robertson in an interview for her September newsletter of My Group Chat.  

“And since they’re not focused on trying to make me understand, I’m able to earn a lot more information to help with what could have been a missed diagnosis. That makes me feel so proud to be able to provide them with the best care I possibly can.”   

Dr. Proaño, a first-generation Ecuadorian American, was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey, to immigrant parents who worked in landscaping, construction, and home care.  

“As the firstborn in my family, I had a lot of responsibility, like going with my parents and my younger brother to doctor appointments to translate,” he recalled. “Then there were times we couldn’t go because we didn’t have insurance, and that was extremely frustrating.  

“That is what made me want to work hard to be that person for families like mine.”  

It was challenging, Dr. Proaño said, to decipher and sort through college applications, scholarships, and financial aid paperwork on his own, but once he was accepted to Rutgers University to study biological sciences, he said Rutgers Office of Diversity and Academic Success in the Sciences was a tremendous help.  

“It’s a program tailored toward underrepresented students, as well as, educationally and economically disadvantaged students to pursue careers within the health professions that sets you up with tutors and advisors to guide you in your journey toward medical school,” he said. “It also introduced me to a community of people with similar struggles I could relate to, and that made college a lot easier and more enjoyable.”  

Dr. Proaño was earning his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School when he was admitted to National Medical Fellowships’ Primary Care Leadership Program.  

“I spent six weeks in Rochester, New York providing social interventions for refugees, which helped me not only to learn how to conduct medical research but also introduced me to fantastic mentors and physician networks.”

Dr. Proaño continued his service for communities made vulnerable during his internal medicine residency via the University of New Mexico.  

“I was part of many clinics assisting patients with many conditions such as in specialties like rheumatology, pulmonology, sleep disorders, and more,” he said. “We had great teachers who, because of the slower pace of life, had more patience and were more willing to take the time to explain things more fully, which helped me achieve total understanding of everything we were practicing.” 

Today, Dr. Proaño sees 15 to 20 patients per day, working 12-hour shifts seven days in a row.  

“The biggest challenge I’ve had in my short career so far has been building up my confidence again coming out of residency into a role with zero oversight,” he said. “However, the team I work with today is extremely supportive, and I have really enjoyed my first year in practice.” 

Dr. Proaño said spending time with his wife, two kids, and a soccer league during his time off is incredibly necessary to career longevity, with hospitalist burnout rates reaching more than 50% after two years.  

“I intend on lasting a lot longer than that in this career,” he said. “Because I want others from similar backgrounds to know and to feel it is possible to become physicians dedicated to helping our communities.  

“Often people with my background see medical roles as unattainable, and there were times I certainly felt as if I was trying to shoot a basketball from too far off the court – but there are many programs like NMF out there to help us, and many people in the field extending their hands backwards to help us, too.”