VOA文化艺术2024--In Puerto Rico, Well-known Rapper also Works as a Doctor

A 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.

Many 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.

The 34-year-old Vázquez recently told The Associated Press (AP) he is still living out his love of music. He also believes he is helping¹ those in need and bringing attention to a health crisis in Puerto Rico.

The 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.

A 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.

"We have a huge exodus² of young people," Vázquez told the AP. He added, "In Puerto Rico, we have a crisis much bigger than people think."

Vázquez 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.

When not working as a doctor, Vázquez produces and performs music that brings attention to issues including social inequality, poverty and gun violence.

In one song, he brings up the territory's problems with violence. "A bullet is flying, lost like a child," he raps, "the wind caresses⁴ it, seeks to make news, falling into a skull⁵, without any kind of justice." The rap song, in English, is called Bullets Cry.

In 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."

Vázquez 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."

Vázquez 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.

He 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 ?ejo on the song.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, he decided⁶ to start working in medicine again. Vázquez worked full-time⁷ at a hospital in Ponce for a year. Then, as a general doctor, he treated patients of all ages.

Vázquez noted⁸ 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."

Words in This Story

door-to-door -idiom to go from house to house in a neighborhood

exodus - n. when a large number of people all leave a place together

caress³ - v. to touch or stroke lightly or lovingly

blessed - adj. of or enjoying happiness

career -n. the path of a person's work live involving different but usually related jobs or professions

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 exodus   

v.大批离去，成群外出

参考例句：

• The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.由于医生大批离去，医疗系统面临崩溃。
• Man's great challenge at this moment is to prevent his exodus from this planet.人在当前所遇到的最大挑战，就是要防止人从这个星球上消失。

3 caress   

vt./n.爱抚，抚摸

参考例句：

• She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。
• She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。

4 caresses   

爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A breeze caresses the cheeks. 微风拂面。
• Hetty was not sufficiently familiar with caresses or outward demonstrations of fondness. 海蒂不习惯于拥抱之类过于外露地表现自己的感情。

5 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。