Attitude, dedication and honoring one’s roots

UB alumnus Jeffrey Pimentel comes by his obsession to improve health care for underserved populations and people in Third World countries honestly.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Pimentel grew up in a low-income housing project in Providence, R.I. His childhood experience left him with a passion to do something about medical conditions for those forced to survive without what most Americans take for granted.

“A lot of my family still lives in the Dominican Republic, and I realized after graduating with my nursing bachelor of science degree how undereducated they were in the medical field,” says Pimentel, a Schomburg fellow at UB who graduated in May with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. He is now a certified registered nurse anesthetist living in Providence.

“There are large hospitals in the capital or larger cities, but my family is from the countryside, and they rely heavily on medical house calls and neighbors for help during emergencies,” he says. “A trip to the hospital would require someone with a car that’s willing to travel the sometimes more than two hours to the nearest large hospital.

“Witnessing this firsthand made me realize the importance of spreading medical knowledge to underdeveloped countries.”

As the recipient of an Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship, Pimentel was awarded a scholarship supporting historically underrepresented students pursuing graduate studies. And his need to reach people who have been medically underserved drove him to work a full schedule while continuing to earn advanced degrees. But give him a chance to explain why he laughs a little when someone asks him about growing up in an assisted living project in Providence and graduating from Classical High School in 2009.

“The thought of growing up in assisted living/project housing would make people think, ‘Wow, life must've been hard,’” Pimentel says. “But my recollection of it is far from that. Times were much simpler. My parents did a great job of raising my two sisters and I, and we never really felt like we struggled or were at a disadvantage.

“In comparison to my family in the Dominican Republic, we lived a great life,” Pimentel says. “But as I compare my youth to some of my old classmates or co-workers, I realize that I didn’t have the luxury of yearly family Disney trips or big lavish birthday parties. But what I did have was a very close family who showed up for all major life events and celebrated together. That’s more than any amount of money could buy.”

Pimentel fits perfectly with UB’s priority of reaching out into the community and elevating talented students to reach goals they might not have imagined. His example is clear: Opportunities await, and sometimes UB can offer encouragement and support to make succeeding easier. And it has nothing to do with income or privilege.

“I want to let youth know that you are not defined by your social or economic status, especially for first-generation students,” says Pimentel. “I think my passion really comes from stories my parents, Georgina and Radhames, have told me. They are stories about their youth and struggles growing up, followed by stories of how they migrated to the U.S.

“I think to myself, if they can overcome those struggles and give me the opportunities I’ve had, I don’t just owe it to myself, but I owe it to my parents to make the best of their sacrifices,” he says.

Among Pimentel’s fans is Cheryl Spulecki, program director for UB’s Nurse Anesthetist Program.

“Jeffrey exemplifies the commitment and focus needed to be successful in a graduate program,” says Spulecki, clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing. “His desire to pursue nurse anesthesia required him to prioritize his requirements and seek professional guidance from mentors and faculty, both at UB and in the clinical arena of his residency.

”Jeffrey also mentored others as a graduate assistant, educating the undergraduates in evidence-based practice and patient priority. His maturity sets an example for others and raises the bar of an advanced practice registered nurse at the doctoral level.”

Pimentel has made it a point to focus his energy and stand up for immigrant or lower-income families who don’t seek health care, either for lack of knowledge that something is wrong or fear of finances.

“Something as simple as teaching them how to check their blood sugar, or what a normal blood sugar reading is, or teaching them how to check their own blood pressure and what normal values are can significantly change a person’s or family’s life,” Pimentel says. “Knowledge is free to give; it’s a matter of making the effort to actually spread this knowledge.”

Pimentel’s clearly recognizes the responsibility he has to other first-generation families out there that have experienced similar lives.

“I want to make it clear, especially to the current youth, that anything is possible if you dedicate yourself,” he says. “I just want to motivate the youth and let them know that no matter what your current situation is, anything is possible if you have the right attitude and dedicate yourself to your goals.”