Antonina lives in Oregon and attends Western University of Health Sciences COMP-Northwest. She is a fourth-year medical student and is the recipient of the Floyd Henry, DO Endowment and the Cleon Miller Memorial Scholarship award.
“The impact of the mind on the body is apparent to me when working with patients who experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”, Antonina writes. She recently evaluated a woman who was experiencing debilitating headaches. After interviewing her, Antonina found out that she had been involved in a tragic car accident.
“Our treatment approach centered around identifying and relieving musculoskeletal restriction in her spine”. The patient realized improvement in both mood and neck pain. “This experience showed me the value of understanding both the physical and psychological concerns of each patient. Through Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), we were able to help the patient release some of the tension she carried from PTSD”.
Joan E. Paluzzi, Ph.D, writes this about Antonina, “At our first meeting I was struck by her poise and warmth. I can easily imagine how reassuring that will be for her future patients. In addition to her skill and intelligence, Nina is one of the most engaged and genuine individuals I have met. My “nurse radar” (it never goes away!) would lead me straight to Nina if I was looking for a physician”.
Antonina had this to say about her future endeavors, “Community is the word that stands out to me when I think about my decision to pursue a career in medicine. I am passionate about working towards a more just and equitable world, and I believe that starts in my own community. I plan to contribute to my community through leadership, service, and advocacy”.
She goes on to say, “I plan to use my experience living in Central America and my knowledge of Spanish to help advocate for healthcare rights and access to services for vulnerable populations, such as migrant farmworkers”.
Congratulations, Antonina. The Foundation looks forward to following you in your career for years to come. Job well done.