A few weeks ago, Belkis and Shannon had the incredible honor of attending a speaker session with Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, affectionately known as “Dr. Q,” at the Mayo Clinic. This session was hosted by Ashley Pratt as part of the Hightower Fellowship speaker series, which Belkis currently chairs.

Dr. Q’s journey from an undocumented immigrant working in California’s fields to becoming one of the world’s leading brain surgeons is nothing short of remarkable. His story of overcoming adversity resonated deeply with the Hightower Fellows, many of whom have faced tremendous loss, including cancer and brain cancer diagnoses, and have navigated the complexities of being immigrants and Latinos in the U.S.

During the session, Dr. Q openly answered questions, offering insight into his experiences as a surgeon and immigrant, and inspiring everyone in the room. His work in brain cancer treatment and research at the Mayo Clinic here in Jacksonville continues to impact countless lives. It was truly an honor to be in his presence and learn from his resilience, dedication, and brilliance.

For more about Dr. Q’s work, you can visit his website or his Wikipedia page.