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Not many people can say their interest in one of the body's most complicated organs began with a water pump.
However, for Army Spc. Elias Figueroa, a combat medic assigned to the D.C. Army National Guard and third year medical student, his interest in medicine began with helping his father install a water pump. His inherent understanding of the pump system and the similarities he drew to the human cardiovascular system are what drew him to the field.
"Just understanding the pump systems, the math made sense and the picture made sense in my head," said Figueroa, adding that it converted so well in his first two years of medical studies that he was tutoring other students.
This same curiosity and hands-on approach drove him to the join the Army National Guard as a combat medic and led to his current assignment with D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, Joint Task Force District of Columbia. He initially joined the National Guard in 2020 and was qualified as a combat medic when he graduated an intense 16-week course focused on emergency medical technician, emergency medical services and tactical combat casualty care training.
Since being on duty with the task force his duties have included treating fellow soldiers and responding to several incidents involving civilians.
His squad leader, Army Sgt. Jay Whited, said Figueroa's experience and skill set has been invaluable in many of the situations they have encountered.
"He's treated at least half a dozen civilians at Union Station since the mission started," Whited said. "We are very lucky to have such a well-trained medic. He's right there, and he's pretty close to being a doctor, so that makes us feel good. It's good for him. It's an actual medical emergency in public that he can get his hands on and do something about."
While assigned to the task force, Figueroa has provided hands-on treatment or assessments for everything from a heat casualty to a narcotic overdose. He said experience like that gives him an advantage going into his third year of medical school, where studies move from the classroom to practical application with patients.
"A lot of us kind of fumble to the point to where some people repeat a semester because they just can't do the clinical part," Figueroa said. "So, I've been able to kind of hone my abilities a little bit. I'm a little more confident. I was like, 'Oh, I can do that. I can take vitals without even hesitating. I can go through an assessment.'"
Despite the added confidence he doesn't take the gravity of his position lightly.
"It's a responsibility," Figueroa said. "You can't freak out. You have to keep a level head and relax. For all those events, when someone yells 'Medic!' I'm calm as heck, I don't overreact."
He said he often reminds himself to begin with the basics to stay calm as he assesses and reassures the patient.
"And that's kind of the first thing that comes to mind is just relax and do the job," Figueroa said.
For the 28-year-old, medicine goes beyond a job to a spiritual and moral code. When he "found Christianity and God" during college, Figueroa asked himself what his strengths were and how he could use that to serve others. That also tied in with a duty he felt as a naturalized citizen to serve his country.
His family emigrated from Peru and he and his parents became American citizens in 2011.
"My dad got citizenship that January, and I got it through him, because I was still a minor," Figueroa said. "I always felt I didn't really earn it. My dad took the test. My dad did all this work. So, part of me was like, I want to actually earn this."
His family started off in an apartment and now they own three properties — one of which is the house where he helped install the water pump that inspired his interest in cardiology, he noted.
"This country gave us a lot, it's kind of like the American dream showed itself," Figueroa said, who will conclude his time with the D.C. task force in two weeks to return to his role as a full-time medical student.
