Dayanara Benitez-Baltazar first became aware of shortcomings in the health care industry at an early age.

“When I would have doctor appointments, my parents and the doctors always had difficulty communicating. We would always need an interpreter. As I grew up, I learned how to translate. I was then able to translate at my little brother’s appointment,” she said. “I realized that there are a lot of language barriers in the health care system.”

Today, Dayanara is on a journey to become a physician and is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in health science with a minor in public health at the University of South Florida. She volunteers as an interpreter for Spanish-speaking patients at a free clinic in addition to her studies. “Volunteering has allowed me to get into the field and be exposed to real-life situations that helped me understand that medicine is not just a textbook of knowledge,” she said.

“Medicine is a field of health and healing where doctors can feel connected to their patients and communities while aiming to improve their lives,” Dayanara continued. “My passion for medicine grows as I gain more knowledge and experience. Becoming a physician will allow me to improve the social determinants of health that affect a wide range of health, functioning and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.”

Dayanara aspires to make a difference for underserved communities when she becomes a physician, noting both the communication and financial barriers confronting many patients. “I think financial burdens shouldn’t be an obstacle to receiving health care assistance,” she said. “Therefore, I really want to be a physician and be able to help others who need the help.

The Founders Memorial Scholarship is helping set Dayanara up for success as she works toward her goals. “This scholarship has been around since 2013, and it has helped a lot of people. It’s an honor to be selected,” she said. “I really hope this scholarship is going to help me further my education, get into medical school, study abroad and visit different communities in need of help.”

Working toward an ambitious future, Dayanara is motivated by hope. “Hope means a lot. I have a lot of goals, and when you have goals, you need to have hope. In the future, I want to make an impact on my community by helping those uninsured and underserved patients.”

IBO Founding Family: Fred + Bernice Hansen

The Hansen family is pleased to honor the recipients of the Founders Memorial Scholarship Program. We celebrate the next generation of aspirers, scholars and achievers. With the hard work and persistence of these excellent and enterprising young people, the future is bright. We continue to be grateful for a legacy of determination, dedication and dreaming big!

– The Hansen Family