Growing up, Dr. Jorge Rivas Ochoa often served as his family’s interpreter during appointments. But at 16, when he needed an emergency appendectomy, his parents — who didn’t speak English — struggled to understand the surgeon’s explanation of his condition, and he was in no position to help either.
Now, Ochoa is returning to Modesto, at the same medical center where he was treated for his appendicitis, as a physician with hopes to bridge gaps in access for Spanish-speaking patients.
“I want to be back and help the community that I came from,” Ochoa said…