Many children grow up playing with pretend doctor kits, checking their parents with plastic stethoscopes and band-aids. Ricardo Crespo Regalado was no different.听
Living in Pink Hill, North Carolina, Crespo Regalado experienced life in a rural, underserved area. His parents worked in agricultural fields and often had limited access to medical care.听
In middle school, Crespo Regalado took a keen interest in his parents鈥� health, acting as their interpreter during medical and dental visits.听
鈥淚n the back of my head, I wanted to know more about what was happening,鈥� Crespo Regalado said. 鈥淚 was there trying my best to interpret, but I wanted to learn more.鈥�听
These life experiences motivated Crespo Regalado to dive into the sciences. He attended 黑料网-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate and started volunteering at the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC), a free health clinic reaching underserved populations.听
鈥淏eing on the other end of the spectrum, providing care, really gave me a purpose,鈥� Crespo Regalado said.听鈥淢y goal in medicine has always been to make sure others have access to what my parents didn鈥檛 have.鈥澨�
Now nearing the end of his fourth year of medical school at 黑料网, Crespo Regalado has been involved with the Student Health Action Coalition for seven years, recently finishing his tenure as Co-CEO in December.听听
鈥淪HAC has made me a lot of who I am today,鈥� Crespo Regalado said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 given me many of the skills, especially leadership, that I have right now.鈥�听
What鈥檚 going to work? Teamwork!听
When Crespo Regalado wasn鈥檛 fully immersed in the sciences, he could be found participating in his favorite combat sports. He was always drawn to the teamwork required in competitive sports and continues to live it out as the head coach of the 黑料网 Boxing Club.听
That aspect of teamwork isn鈥檛 exclusive to sports. Crespo Regalado sees teamwork in his surgical career, too. It鈥檚 why he intends to match into general surgery at 黑料网鈥檚 2025 Match Day on March 21.听
鈥淚t all comes down to what specialty is going to allow me to give the most back to the people who need it the most,鈥� Crespo Regalado said. 鈥淭eamwork is literally built into surgery. You’re the leader in the room, but you鈥檙e working with this big team who you wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without.鈥�
Crespo Regalado credits a conversation with Dr. Paul Ossman, his Patient Centered Care course instructor, for setting him on the path toward surgery. Ossman connected him with several surgeons at 黑料网, including Dr. Lauren Raff, a trauma surgeon at 黑料网 Hospitals.听
鈥淩icardo鈥檚 exceptional work ethic and unwavering follow-through set him apart,鈥� Raff said. 鈥淗e is one of the hardest-working individuals I know鈥攔esponsible, accountable, and remarkably efficient in achieving his goals. His mental toughness, ability to multitask, and relentless drive for results will make him an outstanding surgery resident.鈥�听
Humanism in medicine听
There are numerous obstacles that typically present themselves to first-generation students. However, Crespo Regalado sees those challenges as strengths, knowing he鈥檚 a better person and future physician because of the sacrifices his parents made.听听
As such, he鈥檚 continually been recognized for his human connection in healthcare over the last four years.听
鈥淩icardo鈥檚 work ethic, love of learning, and natural curiosity is contagious to all those around him,鈥� Ossman said. 鈥淏eyond these traits, Ricardo brings a remarkable humanism to his practice of medicine. He continually exceeds expectations in his own work and his brightness naturally inspires his classmates, mentors, and patients to be better human beings.鈥�
With Match Day approaching, Crespo Regalado thanks his older brother, David, and parents for always being by his side and taking care of him. He adds that he would be remiss not to mention the direct support of his girlfriend over the last four years, Emily Bulik-Sullivan, an MD-PhD student. His family, friends and faculty have all made the last eight years in Chapel Hill possible.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a blessing and a dream that I鈥檓 about to be a graduate with an MD,鈥� Crespo Regalado said. 鈥淚 owe this institution so much. 黑料网 has made me into the type of surgeon that I hope to be one day.鈥�听
Crespo Regalado aims to be a leader not just in the hospital, but in his community. Armed with his personal background and the experiences and knowledge he gained at 黑料网, he鈥檚 positioned to continue giving back as much as he can.听
Editor’s Note: Ricardo Crespo Regalado matched into General Surgery at 黑料网 Hospitals during Match Day.