Interview of Dr. Noel Cardoza by Dr. Lubna Mirza, MD FACE during the Endocrinology Rotation
Dr. Mirza: Please tell us about yourself, where were you born, where did you grow up?
Dr. Cardoza: I was born in El Paso, Texas, a town near the border with Mexico, and though my roots run deep in Texas, my journey took me far from where I started. My parents, both from Juarez, Chihuahua, crossed the border to provide a better life for my siblings and me. They built a humble life for us, running a small business making piñatas, always striving for more despite the odds.
Dr. Mirza: When did you move to Colorado?
Dr. Cardoza: At the age of nine, our family moved to Denver, Colorado. I arrived in fourth grade, not knowing a word of English. At school, my classes were in Spanish, and my world revolved around the only language I knew. It wasn’t easy, but I taught myself English through determination, resilience, and a deep-seated need to thrive in this new world. I’m the middle child of four, sandwiched between two older sisters and a younger brother. As much as I longed for stability in this new environment, life in Denver was anything but easy.
Dr. Mirza: What was it like growing up in Colorado?
Dr. Cardoza: We lived in poverty. My parents, undocumented and working for minimum wage, made ends meet however they could. In that struggle, I found my escape and my strength in sports, particularly American football. I joined the middle school team, and through every practice, every game, I discovered a passion that would shape the years to come. Football became my world. Despite the environment around me, gangs, drugs, and the dangers that came with attending a high school where violence was all too common, I clung to the game. It gave me a sense of purpose, a path to something better.
Dr. Mirza: How did it go for you?
Dr. Cardoza: I made a name for myself through football, becoming an All-American player in Colorado, garnering attention from colleges across the country. I eventually chose to stay close to home, attending the University of Northern Colorado on a full-ride football scholarship. But life, unpredictable as it is, threw me a curveball. In my senior year, after suffering multiple concussions, doctors gave me a choice: football or my life. That moment shattered me. I lost my scholarship and, with it, my sense of identity. I had a 1.2 GPA and felt lost.
Dr. Mirza: How did you manage these hardships and obstacles as a young person?
Dr. Cardoza: For a while, I drifted, working odd jobs and struggling to find my footing. But in my darkest hour, I found inspiration just like we heard in the story of Dr. George Henderson and the unwavering belief my mother always had in me. She used to say I would be the one to pull our family out of poverty, and that belief anchored me as I fought to rebuild my life. One of my best friend’s families took me in, offering me a place to stay, but with a condition: I either worked or studied.
That ultimatum pushed me back into education. I started at a community college, slowly bringing my GPA up and learning how to study for the first time in my life. With the encouragement of my friend’s family, I pursued a degree in biochemistry. Volunteering at a hospital, I witnessed the incredible work of doctors firsthand, particularly during a moment when my best friend’s grandfather underwent triple bypass surgery. It was during that surgery that I realized my true calling, medicine.
Dr. Mirza: Tell us more about this experience with your grandfather’s surgery.
Dr. Cardoza: My friend’s grandfather was like my own. I lived with them for several years and they were just like my own family members to me. I saw this surgeon Dr. Babu and thought to myself that I am going to ask him if I can shadow him. He immediately said, yes. I will never forget the moment when he asked his second hand person to move to give me a clear way of an open chest during the surgery. There it was, a beating heart. I had decided in that moment that I was going to pursue surgery.
Dr. Mirza: That is an amazing story, shows the power of mentorship.
Dr. Cardoza: From there, everything began to align. I pursued my dream, eventually getting accepted into medical school. Although my journey took an unexpected detour through a Caribbean medical school that later lost accreditation, I didn’t give up. I transferred to Avalon University, where I found the support and training I needed to succeed. It wasn’t easy, but I kept pushing, driven by my desire to help others the way those doctors had helped my best friend’s grandfather.
Dr. Mirza: How is everything going right now?
Dr. Cardoza: I have learned how to study and I am thankful to all the teachers who showed me how to be an academic. Now, I live in Mesa, Arizona, with my incredible wife and our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, the light of my life. I completed my MBA in August 2023, and I am set to graduate from medical school in May 2025. Every step I’ve taken, every setback and triumph, has led me to this point. I will start my residency in 2026, ready to fulfill the promise I made to myself, my family, and to those I’ve yet to help. This is my journey, and it’s only just beginning.
Dr. Mirza: Well, you have certainly done well in the Endocrinology rotation. Thank you for talking to us today. We wish you the best in your career.
Dr. Cardoza: Thank you for your time and listening to my story.
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