Dr. Angela Escobia-Escaran is a PGY2 Family Medicine resident at NOSM University with a strong commitment to serving marginalized populations and rural communities. Originally from the Philippines and a member of the Asian Medical Students’ Association, she brings a global and equity-focused lens to her work. Outside of medicine, she enjoys travelling, trying new foods, hiking, and playing badminton.
Q: What drives you to keep going during the most demanding moments of residency?
Residency has been both challenging and rewarding, a continuous journey of growth. I’m constantly learning—not just about medicine, but about myself. I aspire to become a family physician who is both clinically excellent and compassionate. With the demands of residency, what keeps me going is my love for medicine and the desire to serve my patients in the best way possible, while also striving to maintain work-life balance and avoiding burnout.
Q: What makes family medicine feel like the right fit for you?
Family medicine truly felt like home to me. It allows me to witness people’s lives across all stages—from birth to end of life—and be part of their stories in meaningful ways. The diversity of work keeps me constantly engaged; no two days are ever the same. It’s a specialty where you never get bored, and in many ways, it feels like a lifelong adventure.
Q: What inspired you to take on a leadership role with FMPE as a resident?
What drew me to FMPE is how it reflects the values I care about—lifelong learning, evidence-based medicine, and creating supportive environments for growth. I wanted to be part of an organization that supports these values and contribute in any way I can—now as a resident board member. I hope to give valuable insight into how FMPE can be optimized to support us, residents, in our journey toward becoming competent and confident physicians, and to serve as a liaison between residents—through the advisory committee—and the FMPE board.
Q: What FMPE resources have made the biggest difference in your learning so far?
Many of us residents really admire the FMPE modules for being evidence-based and practical. The high-yield tables and charts in the appendix are especially helpful for quick reference. I personally love the PBL (Practice-Based Learning) sessions—it’s a safe and supportive space where we can discuss topics openly and help fill in each other’s knowledge gaps. The 105 Key Topics and SAMPs are still new to me, but I truly appreciate the effort FMPE puts into supporting us—even as we prepare for the CCFP exam. This is definitely helpful for us residents.
Q: As a family physician, what are your aspirations?
In the next 5–10 years, I see myself mainly working in a clinic setting, building long-term relationships with patients—the part of family medicine I enjoy most. I also hope to keep a blend of hospital and occasional rural work. Beyond clinical care, I hope to mentor and support the next generation of physicians, including IMGs. Long-term, I want to help shape systems that make healthcare more accessible to all—because it is a basic human right.
