Dr. Rafael Vazquez ’02, a Mount Saint Mary College alumnus, director of Anesthesia for Interventional Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.
After moving to Newburgh from Mexico at 8 years old, Dr. Rafael Vazquez ’02 faced the challenge of navigating a new culture and language, starting with “zero English,” he explained, and building his foundation from the ground up.
Now he’s Senior Director of Non-Operating Room Anesthesiology (NORA) for the multispecialty division at the Massachusetts General Hospital, an attending anesthesiologist in the Department of Anesthesiology at Mass General Brigham, and an assistant professor of Anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School. It was a path built on hard work, encouragement from mentors, and a deep-rooted connection to Mount Saint Mary College that continues to this day.
In his younger years, Dr. Vazquez relied on the support of bilingual teachers to find his footing. As a Mount student a decade later, he balanced a busy schedule that included being a Biology tutor and a member of the college’s Commuter Council, establishing the disciplined habits that would help to define his future career.
Dr. Vazquez credits much of his success to his advisor at the college, Iris Turkenkopf, professor emerita of Natural Sciences and former Vice President for Academic Affairs. Initially enrolled in the physical therapy program and later considering a career as a physician assistant, Dr. Vazquez’s trajectory changed significantly with her guidance.
“Dr. Turkenkopf, my advisor, really pushed me beyond on my limits, beyond what I thought was possible,” Dr. Vazquez explained. “She’s the one that suggested I pursue medicine. She recognized that potential in me and I’m forever thankful for that.”
Dr. Vazquez added that Turkenkopf was also instrumental in helping his mother, Maria, find employment at the college during a difficult period of transition. Since joining the housekeeping staff in 2002, Maria has become a vital part of the campus community, eventually earning the distinction of Employee of the Year in 2020.
Beyond encouragement, the Mount’s career resources provided the practical experiences Dr. Vazquez needed to succeed in the competitive medical landscape. Through the Mount's internship program, he secured a summer research position at New York University (NYU) in 2001.
“That really put me in touch with a lot of people in medicine,” he said. “I got to do research, get a lot of recommendations... so much so that in 2002, I was accepted to NYU Medical School and Cornell Medical School.”
Dr. Vazquez graduated from Cornell Medical School in 2006, followed by a residency in anesthesiology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where he now works. In his roles as a doctor and professor, he finds great purpose in academic medicine, where he combines patient care with teaching the next generation of doctors.
“It’s a very fulfilling career; very busy but very fulfilling,” he said. “I currently work with residents, teaching, and helping patients out.”
Reflecting on his time at the Mount, Dr. Vazquez credits the college’s structure and supportive community for his seamless transition to Ivy League education.
“I’ve learned that structure is what I need,” he said. “I found that Mount Saint Mary really gave me the attention and structure that I used to succeed.”
He emphasized that the small, individualized learning environment at the Mount mirrored the specialized training he found in medical school, noting, “the transition wasn’t very difficult at all. It was seamless, actually.”
For students looking to follow in his footsteps, Dr. Vazquez offers a simple piece of advice: “Take advantage of your resources and work hard,” he said. “You’re never going to regret working hard.”
Through his work in Boston, Dr. Vazquez remains a testament to the Mount, where students are treated like family and empowered to achieve what they once thought was impossible.