In Puerto Rico, Well-known Rapper also Works as a Doctor
2024-08-03
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1A popular rapper in Puerto Rico has kept his job as a doctor to help deal with a shortage of medical workers in the United States territory.
2Many Puerto Ricans know Dr. Pedro Juan Vázquez by his performing name, PJ Sin Suela.
3But others are now getting to see his medical skills as he often goes door-to-door to serve patients.
4The 34-year-old Vázquez recently told The Associated Press (AP) he is still living out his love of music.
5He also believes he is helping those in need and bringing attention to a health crisis in Puerto Rico.
6The U.S. territory is currently facing power outages as well as a shortage of medical professionals.
7Many doctors and other workers have gone to the U.S. mainland seeking better pay.
8A 2023 report by Puerto Rican policy group Center for a New Economy found the territory had lost more than 8,600 doctors out of nearly 18,800 in just over 10 years.
9The problem is expected to get worse in the coming years.
10"We have a huge exodus of young people," Vázquez told the AP.
11He added, "In Puerto Rico, we have a crisis much bigger than people think."
12Vázquez said he travels from the capital, San Juan, to rural areas of the island at least once a week.
13During these trips, he seeks to treat communities struggling from the combined effects of hurricanes, earthquakes and a weak economy.
14When not working as a doctor, Vázquez produces and performs music that brings attention to issues including social inequality, poverty and gun violence.
15In one song, he brings up the territory's problems with violence.
16"A bullet is flying, lost like a child," he raps, "the wind caresses it, seeks to make news, falling into a skull, without any kind of justice."
17The rap song, in English, is called Bullets Cry.
18In another song, called We are More, Vázquez comments on the territory's economic problems.
19He raps, "The debt has been placed before the worker, the one who goes outside under the rain and the sun, public servers, teachers and nurses."
20Vázquez has left and returned to the island several times.
21This is common for many Puerto Ricans, who hold U.S. passports.
22He does not criticize those who have left Puerto Rico for the U.S. mainland.
23"You can't judge anybody, everybody has their story," he said.
24"I'm blessed to have two careers that I can do and live off of."
25Vázquez was born in the Bronx area of New York City.
26But he moved with his family to the town of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
27Later, he went to Pennsylvania, before returning to Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
28It was there that Vázquez studied medicine.
29He became a doctor in 2015.
30He became a household name as a rapper for a younger generation in Latin America in 2018.
31The single that made Vázquez a star was called What Is Your Plan?
32He worked with Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny and reggaeton singer Ñejo on the song.
33When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, he decided to start working in medicine again.
34Vázquez worked full-time at a hospital in Ponce for a year.
35Then, as a general doctor, he treated patients of all ages.
36Vázquez noted that some doctors questioned his medical abilities at first, since he had spent years performing as a rapper.
37But after a short time, he said, "Everybody knew that this wasn't a joke for me, and that I'm really good at what I do."
38I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A popular rapper in Puerto Rico has kept his job as a doctor to help deal with a shortage of medical workers in the United States territory. 2Many Puerto Ricans know Dr. Pedro Juan Vázquez by his performing name, PJ Sin Suela. But others are now getting to see his medical skills as he often goes door-to-door to serve patients. 3The 34-year-old Vázquez recently told The Associated Press (AP) he is still living out his love of music. He also believes he is helping those in need and bringing attention to a health crisis in Puerto Rico. 4The U.S. territory is currently facing power outages as well as a shortage of medical professionals. Many doctors and other workers have gone to the U.S. mainland seeking better pay. 5A 2023 report by Puerto Rican policy group Center for a New Economy found the territory had lost more than 8,600 doctors out of nearly 18,800 in just over 10 years. The problem is expected to get worse in the coming years. 6"We have a huge exodus of young people," Vázquez told the AP. He added, "In Puerto Rico, we have a crisis much bigger than people think." 7Vázquez said he travels from the capital, San Juan, to rural areas of the island at least once a week. During these trips, he seeks to treat communities struggling from the combined effects of hurricanes, earthquakes and a weak economy. 8When not working as a doctor, Vázquez produces and performs music that brings attention to issues including social inequality, poverty and gun violence. 9In one song, he brings up the territory's problems with violence. "A bullet is flying, lost like a child," he raps, "the wind caresses it, seeks to make news, falling into a skull, without any kind of justice." The rap song, in English, is called Bullets Cry. 10In another song, called We are More, Vázquez comments on the territory's economic problems. He raps, "The debt has been placed before the worker, the one who goes outside under the rain and the sun, public servers, teachers and nurses." 11Vázquez has left and returned to the island several times. This is common for many Puerto Ricans, who hold U.S. passports. He does not criticize those who have left Puerto Rico for the U.S. mainland. "You can't judge anybody, everybody has their story," he said. "I'm blessed to have two careers that I can do and live off of." 12Vázquez was born in the Bronx area of New York City. But he moved with his family to the town of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Later, he went to Pennsylvania, before returning to Bayamón, Puerto Rico. It was there that Vázquez studied medicine. He became a doctor in 2015. 13He became a household name as a rapper for a younger generation in Latin America in 2018. The single that made Vázquez a star was called What Is Your Plan? He worked with Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny and reggaeton singer Ñejo on the song. 14When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, he decided to start working in medicine again. Vázquez worked full-time at a hospital in Ponce for a year. Then, as a general doctor, he treated patients of all ages. 15Vázquez noted that some doctors questioned his medical abilities at first, since he had spent years performing as a rapper. But after a short time, he said, "Everybody knew that this wasn't a joke for me, and that I'm really good at what I do." 16I'm Bryan Lynn. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 18___________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20door-to-door -idiom to go from house to house in a neighborhood 21exodus - n. when a large number of people all leave a place together 22caress - v. to touch or stroke lightly or lovingly 23blessed - adj. of or enjoying happiness 24career -n. the path of a person's work live involving different but usually related jobs or professions