Coming To America

E25 - Costa Rican in the USA

Episode Summary

In this episode of 'Coming to America,' we meet Leda Garza, a retired nurse from Costa Rica who immigrated to the United States in the 1970s. Leda shares her rich, diverse experiences as a professional with 42 years in nursing, education, research, and health policy. She emphasizes cultural expertise and advocacy, highlighting the concept of 'Pura Vida' from her homeland. The conversation delves into her life's journey through multiple U.S. states, including Alaska and Hawaii, where she gained profound insights into diversity, equity, and inclusion. Leda also underscores the importance of language access in healthcare and her ongoing work with migrant communities in Oregon. Her story is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the powerful impact of giving back to the community.

Episode Notes

Leda Garside is a bilingual/bicultural Latina professional with 42 years working experience. Her career interests center around nursing education, research, health policy, cultural competencies, health promotion, early interventions, best practices in language interpretation services, community health workers initiatives, and health careers mentoring.

Being an active member in professional organizations, coalitions and boards are ways to give back to the community and provide a voice on how to work towards eliminating disparities, how services are delivered, assuring best services experienced to the patient.

After 10 years of bedside nursing in neurology and cardiology, her nursing career led her to occupational health, outpatient care, and management. Her lived experiences as a clinician have centered in minority health, focusing working with the Latino/a/x and Mesoamerican indigenous communities and other BIPOC population during the last 32 year, this  have provided her with a solid foundation for understanding and connecting to the various communities that make up Oregon.

Leda is an excellent resource to ensure that -- no matter the project – the work will be grounded in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Leda has recently retired from direct patient care but continues her work as an advocate and nurse consultant.