Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Castro-Borrero came from a family of modest means and saw what unmet medical need looks like. Her childhood experiences sparked a passion to help others.
“I am a very proud Puerto Rican – not only of my heritage, language and culture but also my humble roots,” she says. “We were technically poor, but my twin and I never knew that, as we always had food on the table, even if, sometimes, it was white rice and ketchup. I didn’t have a pediatrician, but we did have Dr. Rivera Aulet, our community doctor.”
Wanda credits Dr. Rivera Aulet for inspiring her to become a doctor and help others.
“I remember my mother telling me the story that when his son fell sick, Dr. Rivera Aulet prayed for him to get better, promising that if God saved his life, he would charge all his future patients only $2 a visit.”
His son survived, and Dr. Rivera Aulet made good on that promise. He sometimes treated patients in exchange for eggs, plantains, yuca or chickens if they didn’t have any cash to spare.