International Women’s Day: My Mom the Pioneer
By Imee Diego DuBose (idubose@stanford.edu)
Being at Stanford and as part of the FACS community, we know there are many kind and talented international women to recognize on International Women’s Day (March 8). Their contributions to our communities range from inspirational, motivational, to loyal. While we should recognize their gifts everyday, a dedicated day where appreciation is overflowing across the world for #internationalwomensday is heartwarming. For me, the appreciation is personal.
Long before International Women’s Day was established, I had my own personal role model who was her own trailblazer — my mom, then Dr. Iluminada Chavez Torres, boarded a plane to the United States in 1957. As a recent graduate of medicine from the University of Santo Tomas, she left behind the security of her family of origin, network of friends, and the love of her life to answer the call to address the physician shortage in the United States.
My mom landed in Peoria, Illinois to complete her residency in pediatrics and continued her education with a fellowship in seizure and related diseases at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Six years after her arrival, my dad, Dr. Amadeo Diego, joined her, brought along a wedding dress adorned with butterfly sleeves and made by Pitoy Moreno, known then as the Fashion Czar of Asia. They married with a traditional filipino church mass – including the veil, the cord, the coins, the sponsors — with their chosen family since their parents could not travel to the states. (see pictured)
My parents acclimated to their adopted country but always kept their Filipino culture and values. They welcomed many kababayan to the United States and helped each one settle in. My mom gave birth to five daughters within five years and we all moved from the East Coast to the West Coast (for the weather!) My mom created her own pediatric clinic in Carson, California where she cared and nurtured countless babies for decades. More importantly, as she did when she left the Motherland, she continues to share her faith, love and devotion to family, and inspires all who know her. It is heartwarming to see my mom’s pioneer spirit in so many of my colleagues here at Stanford and especially in my FACS women colleagues!
