Dr. Yazmin Feliz began her journey for her PhD at Columbia University in 2015 to alleviate some of the most prominent global health problems humans face today. She is now a leader in the development of the first handheld ultrasound machine that generates low-cost 3D sonograms.
She currently holds the title of post-doctoral researcher for Columbia University, where she showcases her brilliance and ingenuity and inspires those around her.
In 2016, Dr. Feliz became a GEM fellow and after obtaining her master’s degree in mechanical engineering, she embarked on her PhD journey while also exploring entrepreneurship. She is launching her startup, Ultrasonos, to provide a more user-friendly and economical imaging system that can be handled in the comfort of the user’s home.
Dr. Feliz said that as a minority, she feels like receiving the GEM recognition is a challenge, but she has found solace in this community. She said she wants her struggles to inspire others and give them the motivation to give back.
In her episode of “High-Tech Sunday,” a podcast by Career Communications Group, Dr. Feliz discussed where her motivation to create such a product came from.
“I’m a scientist and engineer with a passion for learning,” Dr. Feliz said. “I enjoy solving engineering challenges related to healthcare in low resource areas that can improve the quality of life, so I enjoy giving back and helping others in my community work towards their professional dreams as well.”
Dr. Feliz did not come from a life of luxury. She was the child of a single mother, living in the Bronx, New York. Growing up, her mother had to keep two jobs to make ends meet, but she always encouraged Dr. Felix to continue her education because it was the only job she had as a child.
Dr. Feliz’s mother was an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. Dr. Feliz said her mother was given the opportunity to attend medical school in Cuba but had to decline the offer because she had nine siblings at home that she was expected to help raise.
“I always thought about that,” Dr. Feliz said. “I always thought about the sacrifices that she had to make, that others had to make, for me to get where I am.”
Dr. Feliz said her father was deeply passionate about spirituality. She said that he believed that people are reincarnated into a new body to serve a purpose and she felt like she had a reason to be on Earth. Her father’s lessons have guided Dr. Feliz through her educational journey and beyond.
In school, Dr. Feliz enjoyed science and math. She said these were the most “fun” subjects to her, unlike some of her other classmates and friends, who despised the subjects.
When she was in the sixth grade, Dr. Feliz attended her first STEM workshop. She was enamored with the thought of being able to build things but felt like it was out of reach for her. She said it wasn’t until she had the opportunity to work with mentors that she believed she could achieve remarkable things in the STEM world.
Her first year of college, Dr. Feliz learned a lesson that has stuck with her to this day. One of her professors gave her the opportunity to put together a team of students to create an antibacterial surface. She cleared out a lab in the basement of her school, gathered equipment, and got to work.
“I wanted the most rewarding experience and to be able to make that impact,” Dr. Feliz said.
When asked about how she got to where she is, Dr. Feliz said it was especially important for her to put herself out there. When she approached her professor, she made a connection and opened doors to other opportunities such as internships and future jobs. On the other hand, she said she also learned her disadvantages as a woman in science during this time.
She recalled a colleague she was training who she said refused to be taught by her. Dr. Feliz observed that he walked out of the room when she tried to teach him something but was much more receptive to others. She took it personally and realized that she had obstacles to overcome to get where she wanted to be.
Dr. Feliz said she has overheard some of her peers invalidating her credentials or questioning her success, but she tries not to take this personally.
“It sucks because those are your peers that are with you in the same lab, working towards this Ph.D. together,” Dr. Feliz said. “These are the peers that have seen you go through all the coursework just as hard as them and they will still say these things.”
When asked what advice she would give other young women facing the same obstacles, Dr. Feliz said, “When you’re in a classroom and you’re the only woman of color in that classroom of 30 plus, every time, raise your hand, I assure you everyone’s going to look, and everyone is going to listen.”
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