Profiles of the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute Advisory Council: Dr. Hector Castillo

In the 1970s, when Dr. Hector Castillo attended Seton Hall University for his Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Chemistry, there were scarcely any other Hispanic students. As a son of Peruvian working-class parents who immigrated to the United States when he was eleven years old, Dr. Castillo was familiar with the experience. Throughout his education, he felt the loneliness of his Hispanic heritage and was reminded of it by the very people who were supposed to encourage him. When asked about his decision to become a medical doctor, Dr. Castillo recalls his high school guidance counselors instilling doubt and fear in him, urging him to reconsider by emphasizing the difficulties and costs of pursuing the profession. To them, medicine was a dream far beyond the limits of a Hispanic student, so they tore him down; however, Dr. Castillo was not deterred.

His dream of white coats and stethoscopes ran far deeper than the careless words of ill-advised counselors. Dr. Castillo dreamt of becoming a doctor since he was eight years old. "There were no doctors in my family. The reason why I wanted to become a doctor was because I saw my grandma suffer from asthma. She used to get really bad asthma attacks and also rheumatoid arthritis attacks. Ever since then, I said, 'When I grow up, I'm going to cure my grandma." Despite the death of his role models, the innocent dream of a naive child became a reality when, after attending medical school and completing his residency at Harlem Hospital for Columbia University, he became a licensed medical doctor and took on his grandmother as one of his patients. Now an ophthalmologist, entrepreneur, and politician, he has used his medical expertise to open medical offices in Paterson and Oakland, NJ, focusing on serving Spanish-speaking communities. Dr. Castillo puts it simply, "I just want to give something back to the community."

It is no wonder that as a Seton Hall University alumnus with a passion for empowering the Hispanic community through education, Dr. Castillo serves as a valued member of the Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute's (JAULI) Advisory Council. As a naturalized immigrant and seasoned political candidate representing New Jersey for over 20 years, he explains, "My motto was education, not corruption. If you educate somebody, they say you're teaching that person how to fish." Rather than further crippling the Hispanic community through band-aid solutions to complex systemic issues, Dr. Castillo's objective is to provide the necessary tools and opportunities for members of the community to uplift themselves. "Give the Hispanics or any minorities proper education. They'll progress, right?" For Dr. Castillo, JAULI is an avenue to serve his community while passing the baton to the next generation of successful Hispanic professionals. "We need the next generation of professionals who can cater to our community because we have doctors who do not really understand the Hispanic culture and the Spanish language." Dr. Castillo is aware of the overlap between physical and mental health and believes that treating physical ailments without tackling emotional and cultural factors works to the detriment of the community. He strives for more Spanish-speaking professionals who understand the culture and can provide constant care with a sense of family.

As Dr. Castillo works closely with charter schools, he seeks to send more students to Seton Hall University. His new dream is for those students to harness their unlimited potential by becoming professionals who benefit Hispanics and other marginalized communities. He relishes the fulfillment attained through service to his community and is in awe of their growing successes. "The potential is right there. They just need the information, and they just need people who care."

Categories: Alumni, Arts and Culture