Meet the author:

Polly Wiltz

Polly Wiltz-Medina is a third-year medical student at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM). She holds a double degree in Spanish and Biochemistry from Western Washington University.

Prior to starting medical school, Polly was a Peace Corps Volunteer, serving as a Community Health Educator in Nicaragua, Central America, developing a national health provider training in HIV testing, prevention and stigma reduction. She was also fundamental in the establishment of Special Olympics in Nicaragua, launching a country wide adoption of the Healthy Athletes Program.

Polly is dedicated to advocacy and is committed to addressing health inequities. She has traveled to Washington D.C., selected to represent her school during DO Day on the Hill where she met with her state Senators and Congresspeople to address the statewide physician shortage, student debt and increasing mental health services for patients as part of primary care. On a grassroots level, she has implemented several pronoun sensitivity trainings at local hospitals and advocated for increased LGBTQ+ inclusivity on campus and within local community of Yakima, As President of the LBGTQ+ Health Alliance, she co-directed the first annual Student-led Panel on Diversity and Intersectionality. She was recently inducted into the Omega Beta Iota National Political Honors Society for her activism during medical school.

In 2020, Polly was selected to be a Pride Foundation Scholar, where she was recognized for her dedication and compassion to inclusive patient care. As a future physician-leader, her goal to continue addressing the health inequities her patients face, implementing inclusive practices that are culturally sensitive, and advocating on the behalf of underserved populations.