Mexicali field worker becomes top US brain surgeon

elchrist

crazynegro once showed me an article in Reader's Digest (I think) about an illegal immigrant from Mexicali who jumped the fence here in Mexicali/Calexico and eventually became a top Harvard educated brain (neuro) surgeon. I was totally amazed at how a young man who was sick of the situation in Mexico decided to risk it all and start working in the fields in California. He later realized he could do better, a lot better, so he switched jobs, went to college and eventually became a Harvard grad and top surgeon in the United States.

Simply amazing.

The NY Times has an interview article with Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, former "wetback," now neurosurgeon.

A Surgeon’s Path From Migrant Fields to Operating Room
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/science/13conv.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin

alexirie · Cholo Nako Joined: 14 May 2008 Posts: 10

He is my wife's cousin, i have met his mom and dad. they still live in mexicali and he is married to a gringa.

elchrist · Posted: 14 May 2008 10:21 AM Post subject:

crazynegro · Posted: 14 May 2008 01:05 PM Post subject:

Actually he's from Ejido Cuernavaca and it's aproximately 16 miles from Mexicali. Here's the article I read at work. It was the Febuary edition's.
I sent and e-mail to the newspaper La Cronica and the fuckers never bothered to write or answer back. This was 2 months ago. They rather hear some Mafia Cartel shit than some Positive, Inspirational and Informative News. Here is a link for those of you who are interested.

http://www.rd.com/illegal-immigrant-turned-brain-surgeon/article51808.html

verbal · Posted: 22 May 2008 08:13 AM Post subject:

Hard work and some brains really do pay off regardless where you come from. Great story.

JackintheBoxster · Gots My GED Joined: 05 Oct 2004 Posts: 118 Location: LA

Impressive.

I'll share this with my workers. Though I wonder if it'll depress them knowing they could have done much better for themselves than work for me...

Encanto · Posted: 23 Jul 2008 01:49 PM Post subject:

this story is all over the news, top story on msnbc. Props to Calecia.com for putting it up first. hard work pays off. i like the fear comment of working harder when faced with fear. Its a fear of failure thats makes us (in this case Dr. Q) work harder at it.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25802159/&GT1=43001

elchrist · Posted: 25 Jul 2008 07:29 AM Post subject:

What would happen if this surgeon would operate on Lou Dobbs' noodle?

desertlow · Cholo Nako Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

I haven't read the article but I am acquainted with Dr. Quinones and his father Dr. Alfredo Quinones Sr.. Although an internet myth that sounds romantic and plausible Dr. Quinones came to the U.S. and had a pratice here in Calexico adjacent to the Calexico Hospital. I assue that he studied medicine at the University of Baja California in Mexicali. He later moved to the San Diego area where Dr. Alfredo Quinones Sr. now lives.

I was friends with the Quinones and visited them in Mexicali many times many years ago where they lived . Working in the fields? Nice story but untrue. His father was a successful doctor who practiced many years in Mexicali and at the Social Security medical center. Who authored it? Ned Buntline?

If you want a true story reaearch the picking and packing machines that operate in many fields. These were truly the invention of a former barcero. They allow the crews to work in the fields picking the crops and packing in the same operation.

elchrist · Posted: 22 Aug 2008 12:40 PM Post subject: Re: Wrong Information on Dr. Quinones