First-year University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 medical student Eugene Santos II is sharing his experience with Tourette Syndrome, a neurological condition marked by involuntary movements called tics and affecting about 1.4 million people in the U.S.
Santos was diagnosed in elementary school after stress from his parents’ divorce and frequent travel between Guam and Hawaiʻi contributed to his symptoms. A neurologist later confirmed the diagnosis.
“My intent was to pursue some sort of writing career, whether that was music or poetry,” he said. “One way or another though, I found myself questioning if there was space for me in medicine. I’d always been interested in it. But because of my Tourette’s, I had an idea of what I could and could not do. And, what I could do, and what I could not do included helping others with their health.”
From diagnosis to medical school
A caregiver experience during college helped reshape his outlook after a patient encouraged him to pursue healthcare despite his tics.
“I remember I was getting her into bed, and she said, ‘You have such good bedside manner. Why don’t you go into healthcare?’ Despite the fact that my tics were really active that day, she saw something in me that was more than that.”
At the , Santos connected with Johnathan Kim, who graduated in May and also lives with Tourette Syndrome. The two bonded over shared experiences and career paths.
Kim is transitioning to an internal medicine residency at the University of California, Irvine, and expressed gratitude for the support of family, friends, classmates and mentors who helped him persevere with Tourette Syndrome.
“To me, that was so cool,” Kim said. “I felt like someone could actually understand what I felt.”
Santos said that connection has been meaningful as he continues medical training.
“We always say representation is important, in whatever field it is,” he said. “Being able to talk with someone about some of my insecurities and someone who has Tourette’s has been really helpful.”
Santos hopes his story encourages others not to be limited by their condition.
“You may have this thing, but you are not defined by it,” he said.
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