Madeline Ashby, Accounting Manager, FHMS
Hospitalist Services
Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized annually from September 15 to October 15 and honors the significant contributions of people with roots in Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. This observance shines a spotlight on the profound impact these communities have had on society as a whole. The choice of September 15 is especially meaningful, as it marks the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence shortly after, on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
In this blog, Madeline Ashby, Accounting Manager, FHMS, Hospitalist Services, shares her journey moving from Puerto Rico to the U.S. and how she honors her Hispanic roots by giving back to the community.
Pride in My Puerto Rican Heritage
Puerto Rico is neither a state nor a country, but a territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans are equal citizens to anyone in the states and we hold citizenship since the day we are born.
Even though we are not a country, we uniquely have our own flag and our own Olympic team.
Being Puerto Rican has been a blessing for me. When I was younger, I had the privilege to represent my country as part of the Synchronized National Team in Artistic Swimming in many Centro American games and that solidified my patriotic feelings.
I love my rich and colorful culture that is represented in everything we do, including our food, our music, our expressions and even our happiness. We are a culture full of diversity, and as descendants of Tainos Spaniards and Africans, Puerto Ricans enjoy a diversity of cultures within its culture.
My Journey from Puerto Rico to the U.S.
Although I’ve always felt extremely proud of my Hispanic heritage, I moved to Florida at the age of 24. I wanted to explore and have new experiences, since my island is a tiny dot in the map of only 35 by 100 miles in total. When I moved to the southern part of Florida, I realized that my new home had an extremely rich Hispanic population, which made my transition easier.
Moving to the U.S. presented a whole world of opportunities for me. I was impressed with the organization, the infrastructure and the diversity of the corporate world. After living in this country for 28 years, I definitely feel I’m lucky enough to have two homes.
I went to Florida International University for my Master’s Degree and even ventured into having my own business back in 2008. Like they say, the U.S. is the land of opportunities.
Giving Back to the Hispanic Community
A couple of years ago, I really felt I needed to contribute to my community and I joined a non-for profit organization called Toastmasters International, which teaches public speaking. I got extremely involved and became an area director, helping Hispanics advance their communication skills. I even conducted a youth group that taught kids from age 13 to develop communication and leadership skills.
Creating future leaders, mostly of Hispanic descent, brought a different sense of belonging and inclusion to my life. I realized that there were many ways I could help immigrants like me enjoy the opportunities that this great country has to offer.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Needless to say, all these years interacting with different cultures has definitely impacted and changed my behavior. It has made me aware of how important it is to develop cultural competency and how that knowledge improves my performance in the corporate world.
I’m grateful to be part of a company that is fully committed to bring awareness to the importance of diversity. As part of my leadership role within the company, I follow through with my company’s purpose. I aim to educate my peers about our cultural differences and learn as much as possible about other cultures, so I can develop the necessary tools to enhance our team’s performance.
Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at TeamHealth, including our Hispanic/Latinx Resource Group.