{"id":10365,"date":"2023-12-19T09:32:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T15:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=10365"},"modified":"2023-12-19T10:27:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T16:27:52","slug":"uw-green-bay-the-boundless-medical-quest-of-adan-cordova","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/uw-green-bay-the-boundless-medical-quest-of-adan-cordova\/","title":{"rendered":"UW-Green Bay: The boundless medical quest of Adan Cordova"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
UW-Green Bay Human Biology major Adan Cordova works out chemistry formulas. Photos by Dan Moore, University Photographer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Honduras to UW-Green Bay, nothing can stop Cordova\u2019s fearless dream of\u00a0becoming a physician<\/h2>\n

For many aspiring students dreaming of a career as a physician, the challenging pre-requisite of chemistry often stands as a formidable obstacle. The concepts are intricate, the mathematics demanding, and the volume of information can be daunting. However, for Adan Cordova, chemistry wasn\u2019t a worthy adversary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI excelled in chemistry,\u201d he proudly states. So, which courses tested Cordova\u2019s mettle? \u201cThe most challenging for me were genetics and academic English.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Honduras native always knew he wanted to become a doctor even before he fell in love with learning. Pursuing a degree in\u00a0Human Biology<\/a>\u00a0with an emphasis\"\"\u00a0on\u00a0Health Science<\/a>\u00a0at UW-Green Bay is challenging even for students on a \u201ctraditional\u201d path. For Cordova, the journey resembled scaling a steep mountain. Not only is he a non-traditional full-time student and a Certified Nursing Assistant, but he\u2019s also a father of three and a partner to his fianc\u00e9, who also balances school and a job.<\/p>\n

A little over a decade ago, Cordova lived in Honduras, working various jobs in manual labor and speaking minimal English. \u201cLife in Honduras was tough,\u201d he recalls. \u201cMy mother, raising three children on her own, worked from home during the day and attended university at night to study economics.\u201d He fondly remembers aiding his mother in making tortillas and preparing meals that she sold from their home. Her signature dish was \u201cpollo chuco<\/em>\u201d \u2013 grilled chicken seasoned with spices, garlic, and citrus, accompanied by pickled onions and crispy plantains.<\/p>\n

His parents had separated, and his father had moved to Green Bay in 2010. Around the age of 16 or 17 Cordova received a phone call from his father offering him a chance to relocate. \u201cHe called and said, \u2018I have the paperwork ready. Do you want to come?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

In the U.S., Cordova saw an opportunity for a fresh start. While he enjoyed a significant family network in Green Bay, his job prospects seemed limited to manual labor. His mother\u2019s efforts back in Honduras remained his guiding light. \u201cI wanted more than factory work. I saw my mother juggling her responsibilities and pursuing her education. I wanted that for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

When he shared his plans to return to school, many were skeptical. \u201cMy friends and coworkers said I was too old and should focus on my family. They suggested I work extra hours if I needed more money.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Cordova\u2019s goals transcended short-term financial gains. He was resolved to reach higher, to pursue his passion. He began his academic journey by taking English classes at a technical college. Excelling in English, he enrolled in a medical assistant program. His aspirations for higher education were set in motion. But what drew him to medicine?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a kid, I wanted to help people,\u201d Cordova begins, \u201cbut I found out when I was a teenager that I\u2019m amazed how the human body is. I love everything that has to do with the human body. And then I learned about the mind and how important the brain is, and I fell in love with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis might sound odd, but I\u2019ve always been fascinated by psychiatry and plastic surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n

With his sights on medical school, he understood that earning a Bachelor of Science was his next crucial endeavor. This led him to UW-Green Bay in in the fall of 2021, where he faced his fear of not fitting in, found exceptional support, and has been on an upward trajectory ever since.<\/p>\n

\"\"Professors quickly noticed Cordova\u2019s dedication. \u201cHe is an exemplary student,\u201d remarks Uwe Pott, an associate professor in Human Biology who instructed Cordova in genetics. \u201cFrom the outset, it was clear he was committed to excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordova\u2019s tenacity and focus set him apart, not just in exams, but in lab work and group discussions. Professor Pott observes, \u201cIt\u2019s a joy to teach someone so invested in understanding every detail, not just memorizing for a test.\u201d<\/p>\n

His academic momentum continues as he currently delves into courses like organic chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, and on top of that, a demanding genetics lab.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn human immunology class, I became passionate about how our body responds to infection,\u201d he said. \u201cEither a bacterial or a virus. Learning how the body reacts and how it will respond.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next milestone for Cordova is preparing for the Medical College Application Test (MCAT)\u2013a pivotal step for his medical school aspirations. The journey ahead includes applications, essays, and letters of recommendation. For now, Cordova wants to savor his current achievements. \u201cI plan to take a gap year to spend time with my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for his future beyond medical school, Cordova, grounded in science, also relies on his faith and profound interests. He\u2019s drawn to drawn to psychiatry but has not ruled out plastic surgery or even family medicine. As he continues to explore, he remains open to possibilities and is willing to consult with even higher authority, \u201cI\u2019ll let God lead the way and make my decision when I\u2019m in med school.\u201d<\/p>\n

What unexpected lessons has life taught you?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Life is full of surprises. I\u2019ve always known that if you work hard and put in the dedication for your dreams they can come true. What I didn\u2019t know was how much you had to believe in yourself to also make your dreams come true.<\/p>\n

When I started my higher education journey I had so many doubts, fears, and insecurities about returning to school. As a non-traditional college student whose first language is Spanish and not English, aging into their 30s and having three kids at home to take care of I felt that I did not belong in college much less in medical school. Even though I worked extremely hard for good grades and exams scores I continued to feel displaced and undeserving of my merits.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t only until recently that I finally grasped what everyone has been telling me since the day I first arrived at UWGB, I belong here and more importantly, I am deserving of all the good things I have worked hard for. Upon realizing this life lesson, I came to the realization that believing is an important part of making your dreams come true because the only person that can stop you from achieving your goals is you.<\/p>\n

Once you begin to believe in yourself, that you are capable, and that you deserve your dream, achieving it becomes slightly less hard and even more promising. Also, I learned to ask for help and that I do not have to do it by myself. I would not be here if it was not for the people who helped me.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your spark?<\/em><\/h3>\n

My family is my spark, especially my fianc\u00e9, mother, and sister. They\u2019ve been my pillar of strength. Even my children, though they might not realize it, give me the motivation to push forward. When my first son was born and I held him in my arms, it hit me hard \u2013 I\u2019m a father. This realization was profound.<\/p>\n

How has education ignited your personal growth?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Coming from a different culture, my education here has broadened my horizons. I\u2019ve become more accepting and non-judgmental of others. I\u2019ve also learned that life doesn\u2019t have just one path. If one way doesn\u2019t work out, there are other avenues to explore.<\/p>\n

Watch Adan talk about his experience as a First Generation student at UW-Green Bay.<\/a><\/p>\n

At UW-Green Bay, every person has the power to Rise. No matter who you are, where you\u2019re from, or what you want to be.\u00a0<\/em>Rise Stories<\/em><\/a>\u00a0feature people from all walks of life who are blazing a brighter future for our region.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Written by Michael Shaw<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/news.uwgb.edu\/featured\/11\/27\/the-boundless-medical-quest-of-adan-cordova\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Honduras to UW-Green Bay, nothing can stop Cordova\u2019s fearless dream of\u00a0becoming a physician For many aspiring students dreaming of a career as a physician, the challenging pre-requisite of chemistry often stands as a formidable obstacle. The concepts are intricate, the mathematics demanding, and the volume of information can be daunting. However, for Adan Cordova, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":10367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[111],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-10365","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-green-bay"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/10365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=10365"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=10365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}