by Adama Dyoniziak, Executive Director, Champions for Health
“As a physician, I am giving of myself, but I get so much more in return,” expressed Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros, Chief Medical Officer at San Ysidro Health (SYH), as well as mother of three and grandmother to seven. “I feel such gratitude to belong to a profession that holds knowledge, compassion, and grace as the foundation. As a family medicine physician, I can maintain long-term relationships with patients built on trust and respect and see the positive impact that I have on a person’s life.”
A native San Diegan, Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros was the youngest of 6 children. Her mother worked in a dry cleaner’s shop and her father was a local truck driver. “We did not have much, but we had a beautiful life.” Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros has been married for 30 years to Pablo. Their 3 children are all in the healthcare field.
Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros had an unconventional journey to become a physician. She started her academic journey at Harvard University where she worked 40–60-hours per week. After graduating, she worked in the IT field for 10 years. Her father had been ill for some time, and she was very involved in his care until he passed. His pulmonologist was the most compassionate person, and he had an impact on her life. After returning from her 10-year college reunion, she decided to quit her job and become a physician, like the physician who took care of her father.
Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros completed her pre-med studies and medical school at UCSD. “My mother told me, ‘No matter where you are accepted for medical residency, I will follow you to care for your son’.” Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros participated in a new family medicine residency through Scripps Chula Vista, with a continuity clinic located within San Ysidro Health. After working 25 years at SYH she says, “It is a blessing to come back to my own community and serve as a family medicine physician.”
Now, as the current Board President of Champions for Health (CFH), and the President Elect for the Board of the San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS), Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros says that it is going to be a challenging year on many fronts. “Part of my responsibility is to keep physicians informed and to stay flexible with whatever we face at the state and federal level. We need to stay focused. We need to choose hope.”
When Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros was asked to be on the CFH Board, her response was a resounding “Yes! I could not be more grateful for all the care that CFH has given to our patients through Project Access San Diego.” CFH’s 200 physicians, hospitals and surgery centers volunteer their care, surgical services and facilities, while CFH staff guide the patients and their families through the process and provide medical interpreting, transportation, diagnostic tests and medicines, all free of charge to the patient. This year’s joint event, United In Wellness Gala: Soaring Towards a Healthier San Diego on Saturday June 27th at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, celebrates Dr. Carriedo-Ceniceros’s SDCMS presidency and is a fundraiser for Project Access San Diego.
www.unitedwellness.givesmart.com
