Happy #Filipino American History Month! We sat down with Dr. Jose Tamayo, a family physician with Baptist Primary Care, to learn a little more about his heritage and what this month means to him.
Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
A. I grew up in Biñan Laguna, a small municipality outside of Manila. My mother, a cardiologist, nudged me toward a career in medicine at an early age. Now, most of my free time is spent with my family. My wife and I have five daughters, with the oldest in college and the youngest in first grade. On weekends, you'll usually find us at the beach or dining at a local restaurant. Occasionally, I like to catch the local car show, Caffeine and Octane, with friends. We also try to travel as a family whenever we can. This year, we crossed off a "bucket-list" trip by attending Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican. Even though I'm thousands of miles away from my childhood home, Jacksonville Beach has become our new home, and it's been a pleasure and a privilege to serve the Jacksonville community for the past 15 years.
Q. Is there anyone in your life that you especially admired or looked up to growing up?
A. I was named after my grandfather, Jose Tamayo, an obstetrician married to a pediatrician. He was an amazing and influential part of my formative years. He even founded a College of Nursing in Manila, which has grown to become the 7th largest university in the Philippines. He impressed upon me the sacred calling of being a medical practitioner, and his legacy continues to inspire me in my own career.
Q. How long have you been with Baptist Health and what do you do in your current role? How did you come to work at Baptist?
I've been affiliated with Baptist Health for 15 years. My journey began when Dr. Mark Messinese, then Chief of Staff at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, took a chance on me as a fresh residency graduate. Together, we practiced both hospital and outpatient primary care out of the old "Church Clinic" on 16th Avenue. Five years ago, we moved into our current office in Building A at Baptist Beaches.
Q. What does Filipino Heritage Month mean to you?
A. I'm very proud of my Filipino heritage, especially our legacy in caring. Filipinos have a long history of a symbiotic relationship with the United States, with nurses migrating en masse during every major nursing shortage since World War II. My mother was one of those nurses in the 1970s. While Filipino nurses help alleviate shortages here in the USA, they are also able to better the lives of the family members they leave behind in the Philippines. We also have a proud Navy connection, with countless Filipinos enlisting since 1947. Here in Jacksonville, we have the largest Filipino population in Florida, which makes me especially proud to be part of this community. We're proud to be Filipino American!
#BaptistProud
