Dr. Hiram Isaac

My family of five made the bold decision to leave Puerto Rico and pursue the American Dream in Chicago during the 1980s. My father’s dream was to become an engineer and provide us with opportunities for success that he and my mother never had. Throughout my childhood, I attended my neighborhood Chicago Public Schools. When it came time for college, I wanted to attend but my family didn’t have the financial means to afford college. I had to find a way to pay for it.

Fortunately, my talent for baseball opened the door to a bright future. All it took was for someone to tell me that I was skilled enough to use baseball to fund my college education and, perhaps, one day become a professional athlete. At that moment, I believed I was on the right path—one that would ultimately relieve my parents of the financial burden and stress of paying for college, as well as be my ticket to the great American Dream.

I attended a community college in Iowa on a full baseball scholarship, but after two years without earning my associate degree, I was now faced with the questions: Where am I going to go for my last two years, and how am I going to pay for this final segment?

A friend of mine recommended Wilbur Wright College to me, and I decided to transfer there to complete my associate degree. The transfer process was challenging; however, with the academic advising and guidance I received from my advisor, María Llópiz, I was able to fulfill my requirements and earn an associate in arts degree. Earning my degree at Wright allowed me to transfer to Texas A&M, where I was able to earn an education and play baseball. It led to a brief stint as a professional baseball player at the minor league, but I ultimately decided to pursue a career in healthcare.

During my life I had the privilege of meeting remarkable individuals who exposed me to the field of medicine. However, as a Latino with less-than-ideal grades and test scores, I found myself uncertain about how to enter this field. Through my faith in God and the unwavering support of my parents, I was guided toward a higher calling in life: to become a physician.

I graduated from Loyola University with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2008, earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Walden University, and obtained a medical degree from Caribbean Medical University in 2014 before completing my medical residency at the University of Illinois Chicago. During my residency, I was honored to be recognized as Resident of the Year at UI Health. I am now an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist in my home country of Puerto Rico. I had a heartfelt desire to return and serve my community in this capacity.

One thing I’ve learned in life is to never give up in the pursuit of your dreams. The road may seem long, but it’s secure for those who persevere to the end.