{"id":130458,"date":"2022-08-08T11:20:31","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T15:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=130458"},"modified":"2022-08-08T11:20:31","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T15:20:31","slug":"family-love-of-horses-bonds-sister-physicians-training-in-ocala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/family-love-of-horses-bonds-sister-physicians-training-in-ocala\/","title":{"rendered":"Family, Love of Horses Bonds Sister-Physicians Training in Ocala"},"content":{"rendered":"

As youngsters, Valerie and Irma Vazquez were raised on a horse farm in Puerto Rico, were champion equestrians and shared a mutual interest in medicine. Today, the sister-physicians are training to become surgeons at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, in the center of Florida\u2019s horse country.<\/p>\n

Irma Vazquez is a first-year general surgery resident. Valerie Vazquez is the hospital\u2019s chief surgical resident, helping to guide physicians in training.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel blessed, knowing I will be able to teach my sister especially in the first year of her residency which is considered the hardest. She is a fast learner and it is probably one of the most gratifying and exciting feelings of my entire career as a resident,\u201d says Valerie. \u201cBeing a chief resident comes with big responsibilities, especially when it comes to being a teacher, but I enjoy teaching very much.\u201d<\/p>\n