Carmen Cortez Ortega on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Carmen Cortez Ortega . Check out our conversation below.

Hi Carmen, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with class, where we dive into different medical topics and review key concepts. Afterward, I head home and spend a few hours studying the material we covered and doing practice questions to reinforce it. Toward the end of the day, I unwind by reading in bed before starting again the next morning. I also make time to give back by sharing parts of my day on social media for pre-PA students, offering guidance, mentorship, and an honest look into PA school.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carmen, and I’m a Physician Assistant student who is passionate about medicine, mentorship, and community impact. Alongside my studies, I’ve built a platform dedicated to supporting pre-PA students especially those from underserved and first-generation backgrounds by sharing my daily life, offering guidance, and demystifying the PA school journey.

I’ve helped create mentorship programs, organized workshops for students exploring healthcare careers, and continue to stay involved in community service projects that highlight access, education, and representation in medicine. What makes my work special is the focus on transparency and empowerment: I want others to see what’s possible and feel supported every step of the way.

Right now, I’m finishing PA school while continuing to grow my mentorship initiatives, with the long-term goal of helping diversify the PA profession and make healthcare education more accessible to everyone

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work is my mom. She cleaned houses for a living, and watching her do such physically demanding work with pride, strength, and commitment shaped everything about my work ethic. She showed me that real hard work isn’t glamorous it’s showing up every day, doing your best, and pushing forward even when no one is watching. Her resilience and dedication are the reason I approach PA school, mentorship, and community work with so much purpose.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there were definitely moments when I almost gave up. PA school is incredibly demanding, and balancing the workload, community involvement, and my own expectations of myself hasn’t always been easy. I remember times during didactic year when the exams felt nonstop, and I questioned whether I was really cut out for this path.

But every time I reached that breaking point, I reminded myself why I started: my family, my community, and the students I mentor who look to me as proof that their dreams are possible. Thinking about my mom and the sacrifices she made, and knowing that I’m paving a path for others like me, always pushed me to keep going. Those tough moments ended up becoming the reason I’m stronger and more grounded in my purpose today.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the healthcare and PA school world is the idea that you have to be ‘perfect’ to succeed perfect grades, perfect experience, perfect confidence. It creates a pressure that isn’t real and pushes a lot of good people out of the field before they even start. The truth is, medicine needs real humans with real stories, not robots.

Another misconception is that you have to figure everything out alone. So many students believe struggling means they don’t belong, when in reality everyone struggles most people just don’t talk about it.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think the biggest misunderstanding about my legacy might be that people will see the final achievements becoming a PA, mentoring hundreds of students, building community programs and assume it all came easily or naturally. What they may not realize is how much of my journey was built on quiet resilience: being first-generation, navigating spaces where I didn’t always feel like I belonged, and pushing through moments of doubt that no one ever saw.

People might also think my legacy is just about academics or career milestones, when in reality what matters most to me is the impact on others the students who feel seen, the communities that feel supported, and the people who realize they can accomplish things they never thought possible. My story isn’t about perfection; it’s about perseverance, representation, and lifting others as I climb.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thechicanapa