• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 06 / 08 / 2011

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Aldrich hopes to remain in Ohio and teach. BY PAYTON WILLEY. BLADE STAFF WRITER. Without knowing a single word of English, Nely Aldrich moved from Cuba to Oregon with her family when she was 8 years old.

What brought her family to Oregon was the only connection the family had in the United States: Nely's godmother.

Dr. Aldrich said her parents decided to come to the United States because they didn't like the politics in Cuba.

"They wanted to give my sister and I an opportunity to excel," she said.

She first enrolled in an American school when she was in third grade at Star Elementary, and said it was a struggle in the beginning because she couldn't communicate with any of her classmates or teachers.

Dr. Aldrich had a tutor to help her learn English, but she said she was learning faster than the tutor was teaching just by talking with her friends.

Her mother, Nelaida Aldrich said that within three months her daughter was already on the honor roll.

"It was a little silly, here's this little kid from Cuba, and she learned everything so fast," Mrs. Aldrich said.

This academic achievement was just one small step for Dr. Aldrich as she continued on in her education.

During her time at Clay High School, Dr. Aldrich played tennis, marched in the band playing both trumpet and oboe, and also was part of her school's model United Nations.

After graduating from Clay, Dr. Aldrich was accepted into the six-year medical program at Kent State University.

She spent her first two years taking undergraduate courses, and spent the next four years in medical school studying integrated life sciences, allowing her to complete what would be a full eight-year degree in only six.

Dr. Aldrich, who is 24 and engaged, graduated from medical school on May 21.

Although she graduated, Dr. Aldrich is not yet finished pursuing her studies.

She has applied for her specialty, dermatology, and will be starting a four-year residency at Case Western Reserve's school of medicine in Cleveland. Dr. Aldrich said that she is a natural teacher.

"I would love to work in an academic medical center and teach residents and medical students," she said.

Dr. Aldrich would like to stay in Ohio, close to her parents. She also hopes to have her own private practice someday.

Source: http://www.toledoblade.com/East/2011/06/08/Cuba-native-graduates-from-me...