The coronavirus pandemic has led us all to think more about disease and how to fight it. Continue reading to learn more about Antonia Novello, an inspiring public health advocate and physician!
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what causes disease? Maybe you or someone you know has been exposed to the coronavirus, the disease that caused the ongoing worldwide pandemic in 2019. Diseases can cause a lot of harm in our communities, which is why promoting public health is so important. Today, let’s talk about an outstanding public health advocate and physician, Dr. Antonia Novello!
Early Life:
Antonia Novello was born and raised in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. As a child, she suffered from a disease known as congenital megacolon, which caused her to be in and out of the hospital for treatments. She wasn’t able to get surgery to correct her condition until she was 18 years old because her family simply couldn’t afford the cost of the surgery. Novello’s experience with this disease was one of the motivating reasons why she decided to become a doctor and help others suffering from illness.
Her hard work and passion to pursue medicine granted her a scholarship at the University of Puerto Rico. She continued on at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and graduated in 1970. During Novello’s time in medical school, a relative of hers died due to kidney failure. After this incident, Novello was motivated to find out all she could about kidney disease, and she later specialized in the study of the kidneys and pediatrics (medical care of children). After practicing medicine for a couple years, Novello was inspired to advocate for health to the broader public.
Contributions:
Novello’s interest in public health led her to join the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps as a project officer. In 1982, she obtained her master's degree in public health and went on to become the deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. After working in public health for two decades, Novello was appointed Surgeon General, the head health official in the country. As Surgeon General, Novello focused on protecting the health of vulnerable groups, such as children and minorities. She helped to create greater healthcare access for ethnic minorities with community outreach and meetings to help tackle health needs. She worked to promote early childhood health and the prevention of infectious diseases. She also emphasized the importance of women’s health and awareness. Following her time as Surgeon General, Novello became a special representative for the United Nations Children’s Fund and state health commissioner. Throughout her career, Novello dedicated her time to improving healthcare for all, even on a global scale. Her enthusiasm for her work granted her many awards and produced positive change in our healthcare system.
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