Why did you become a doctor?
I decided to become a doctor in medicine during my college years when I realized that as physician, I could constantly learn about new science developments without losing contact with people and communities. During my years of practice, I’ve learned that what I enjoy the most about hematology and oncology is the connection built through the patient-doctor relationship. As a physician, my goal is to help my patients understand their disease so that they can make informed decisions about their care. Listening to my patient helps me identify their worries and barriers that impair their care so that I can better help them improve their health. My philosophy is to not isolate the disease that I’m treating but to evaluate my patients as whole beings that are also part of a family and community. My maxim is the ‘golden rule’, treat others as you would like to be treated.
Research Interest
Dr. Aponte is the research leader for the San Antonio Region. Her research interests include breast cancer but as the research leader for San Antonio, she has ample knowledge of the research opportunities that are available at our sites and through the US Oncology Network.
Other Information
Dr. Aponte is originally from Puerto Rico and moved to San Antonio with her family to practice medicine and to enjoy the beautiful city. In her spare time, she likes to exercise, read, and explore San Antonio and the neighboring towns. I just started hiking as a way to keep fit and experience the Texas outdoors.