Ophthalmology Resident Aims to Make a Global Impact

Tania Padilla Conde, MD, wants to make a global impact in medicine, and she’s off to a good start.

Though early in her career as a second-year ophthalmology resident at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, she already has served in health care trips in Montana, on South Dakota Indian reservations, and in Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Honduras.)

Dr. Padilla Conde was drawn to the College of Medicine because of its global ophthalmology residency track. Called the UK GO residency track, the program is designed to provide a well-rounded education in global ophthalmology. Residents like Dr. Padilla Conde interact with key players in global health, complete scholarly projects, and receive a certificate upon completion.

While Dr. Padilla Conde was born in California, her family is from Guatemala. As a first-generation physician, she knows that her career path has made her family proud. She hopes that her specialized medical training and passion for service will lead her to future global health work in Guatemala and Central America.

“My mom has always sacrificed so much, and she came here to give her children better opportunities that we wouldn't have in Guatemala,” she said. “The idea of doing something that would make my family proud and impact so many lives through the gift of sight has been the ultimate driver for me.”