Maria S.
About Maria S.
Maria S. is a Palliative Medicine Physician and Hospice Director at Compassionate Care Hospice, with multiple roles in San Diego, California, and an upcoming position at Lower Cape Fear Lifecare in Wilmington, NC.
Title
Maria S. serves as a Palliative Medicine Physician. She holds multiple positions, including Hospice Director at Compassionate Care Hospice, Expert Witness at Sturchler MD, Inc., Palliative Medicine Physician at Scripps Health, and Voluntary Faculty at UC San Diego Health. Additionally, she will be joining Lower Cape Fear Lifecare, serving Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC in fall 2023.
Education and Expertise
Maria S. completed a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship through a joint program between UCSD and Scripps Health. She also has advanced degrees in education and leadership. As a passionate educator, she has expertise in teaching mathematics, ESL, and gifted education. Her medical career is built on a solid foundation of leadership and educational excellence.
Background
Maria S. is a first-generation high-school and college graduate and an immigrant who navigated her career despite challenges related to poverty and marginalization. Her journey includes serving as Chief Resident in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Diego and taking on roles to support various community and professional organizations.
Achievements
Maria S. has an impressive track record, having served as a medical director for Compassionate Care Hospice and as a Board member for SDCMS Champions for Health, Le Lycée Français de San Diego, Southern CA Latinas in Medicine Chapter, and the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation. As a triathlete and three-time Ironman competitor, she embodies dedication and commitment in both her professional and personal life.
Professional Interests
Maria S. is deeply invested in several key areas, including effective and empathic leadership, mentorship of underrepresented minorities, diversity and inclusion in STEM, humanism in healthcare, and women’s leadership in medicine. Her personal interests include bias reduction and education, improving healthcare access for underserved populations, global health, and outdoor activities.