Meet Dr. Juan Gomez | Teacher, Health Care Provider, School leader, & Community Servant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Juan Gomez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juan, what do you want your legacy to be?
My name is Juan Gómez, and I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico! When I think about my legacy, I want to be remembered as a person that cared for his family, friends, students, peers, and the community. Having said that, I am also able to take care of myself in such a way that others benefit from it. I ensure that I am intentional and genuine to the people I interact with every day.

Sooner rather than later, we all leave a legacy behind, it can be good or bad, but the most important thing to note is that we will be remembered and loved by those that we have helped during our lifetime. I want to be remembered as a son, brother, friend, and someone that helped others grow and reach their dreams, through my hard work and dedication. Caring is powerful because when a person gives everything they have to care for others and for themselves; and not only that, when they truly respect others for who they are, the legacy of a champion and ambassador is created.

What does caring me to you? Whenever this question is asked of me, I think of my duties as a health educator, teacher, birth DOULA supportive, and as a community servant. I desire to be as prepared for these roles as possible. I am very persistent, and I do not give up until the task is accomplished and the people, I am serving feel supported and cared for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My life has not been easy! coming from a country where I had to adjust to a new culture, language, and customs was hard. I worked multiple jobs to help my family and pay for my education. Wherein, I worked in the fields of landscaping and as a handy man. I knew that if I wanted to make a difference for myself and my community I have to invest in my education. I faced so many challenges and sometimes I felt like giving up, but with my faith in our Creator and the encouragement from my family I gained more strength.

Before becoming a teacher, despite my involvement in the community, I realized that if I wanted to make a difference for the future generation, I knew then that becoming an educator was the key! I loved teaching and helping students overcome their obstacles. Having knowledge of ethical standards in dealing with students, parents, staff, and the community and being very passionate about these I have utilized those values with my students and the community. In turn, they have learned a lot and have been able to apply the lessons in their everyday lives.

You might be asking yourself, why I chose to be an educator. As a teacher, I have the opportunity and privilege of making a difference in my community and helping future generations. I want to create a better future by providing the knowledge and tools necessary for my students, to be successful in their chosen field that they feel comfortable with. Every student has abilities and skills, and as a teacher I want everyone to be able to see what their strengths and weaknesses are so that they can build confidence and believe in themselves. Throughout my own education, I met teachers that gave me the courage to be somebody in their life. They gave me confidence and hope and I want my students to feel the same way, that they are not alone in their struggles, battles and success. My philosophy is that, as an educator I can help shape the lives of people, be a role model, and promote a hunger for learning.

As a teacher at the Colorado Language Program, we help students achieve their academic and language-learning goals for a successful life in the United States. We offer a wide range of courses and can provide accommodation for students that are ready and willing to grow and learn with us. Every diverse student can be served in any classroom set up and if they require a different style of learning this can be addressed so the student receives the appropriate learning inside and outside of the classroom. Every student is different, and they need to be taught in a way that they understand. In order to help every student, it is important to use different classroom activities and materials that meet their learning styles.

As a Social Emotional Generalist at Goal High School, we support each student to achieve their goal of earning a high school diploma, as well as their first steps into their post-secondary education and/or workforce experience. We offer two plans of study that result in the earning of a high school diploma. One is the traditional education path, that requires twenty-two credits for graduation. The second is a program called Senior Recovery that works with over-age and under-credited students. Throughout my experiences at Goal, I have realized that diverse students tend to bring strength, resources, and benefits to their peers, academic advisors, and teachers. As an academic advisor I have learned so much from the students’ perspectives. I have worked with students that come from different backgrounds and they all have a different style of coping mechanisms. As an academic advisor and teacher, a person needs to build trust in order to build confidence with their students. The way I helped our students is through working with them face-to-face and using different methods (pictures, writing format, etc.) to help my students understand the material. Diversity provides a more secure environment and fortifies hope for the future.

The following are the programs for which I provide support:

a) Program Support Assistant for the Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP) and Culture of Wellness in Preschools (COWP) I support educators, Parents, and children to be healthy, both mind and body.

b) Northern Colorado Breastfeeding Coalition as the Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement to create an environment that supports and sustains breastfeeding success in Northern Colorado by providing the community support, resources, and education to increase the success and longevity of breastfeeding.

c) Vice Chair for Sunrise Community Health. Sunrise serves Northern Colorado from eleven clinic sites providing affordable-access, quality care for everyone. Sunrise offers support services and connects the patient to community resources to address barriers in accessing care.

d) Nurse-Family Partnership board where different programs come together to give updates on opportunities for their agencies and programs in attendance to share about their current programming.

e) Vice-President for the Tobacco Free Coalition of Weld County (TFWC). I served as the spokesperson for TFWC when appropriate and supported the public policies and general awareness. TFWC is committed to preventing youth from starting tobacco use, helping people who use tobacco to quit, assisting in the reduction of and protection from second-hand smoke, and reducing tobacco use.

In 2019, I was awarded the Alumni Excellence in Public Health Practice from the Colorado School of Public Health. The award was given to me because of the hard work I have shared in the public health area and the achievements I have accomplished toward the mission of the organization with my students, staff, and the community.

Even though I have faced many challenges I never gave up. I’ve had ups and downs like many others, but at the end of the day, I pursue in reaching my long-term goal in helping the people around me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Estes Park in Colorado is a great place to visit in all seasons! I would like to invite everyone to visit Estes Park because of the rocky mountain national park, trails, waterfalls, lakes, and home to wildlife. You will find the best food, drinks, and places to go with your family for fun! Whether you are planning a family vacation or romantic weekend, Estes Park has the events, lodging and activities to create the perfect escape. Estes Park is indeed the perfect place to start your adventure exploring the true heart and soul of Colorado. Come and visit Estes Park!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank God for putting people along the way that have helped me attain the goals I have set for myself. These people are my family, along with the teachers, friends, co-workers, and community because they have helped me to be the person who I am today and the person I want to be tomorrow and the future that we all look forward to.

I never imagined to be in the Land of Freedom. I was brought to the United States at age seven. I recall growing up and being in school with my peers that did not know my language and culture. I realized that in order to fit in, I had to adjust and learn the culture I was living in. Throughout middle and high school, I knew that I had to work harder than my peers to achieve the “American Dream” and become somebody whom my family and the place where I came from to be proud of me. My life after school was working in the fields harvesting different types of crops, given the same routine each day. Coming from a family of eleven, it was not easy. My siblings had to work from sunrise to sunset to provide food on the table and roof over the heads of our big family. Studying in high school and the University of Northern Colorado was not easy for me. Regardless of that, however, I graduated and reached my dream of being an educator and working in the health care field in 2012 with a degree in Human Services and minor in Spanish. In 2014, I graduated with my master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education from the MPH program at the University of Northern Colorado. In 2022, I received my Doctor of Philosophy in the specialized area of Public Health from the Theophany University. I also completed certifications as a birth DOULA and Phlebotomy, along with additional training as a Certified Lactation Educator, Childbirth Educator, and CNA. My desire and goal has been to help under served populations working as a health educator, teacher, translator/interpreter, birth DOULA, and Social Emotional Generalist.

With the support of my family, friends and teachers I was able to grow up having knowledgege that is very essential to support and provide to my students, clients and the community for whom I work with until this very day.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juan.p.gomez.980

Other: gome8647@gmail.com