Michael Acevedo turned loss into a life of service and meaning

Long before he ever put on a white coat, Michael Acevedo found himself in an unexpected role as a translator.

As the only member of his family born in America to Dominican immigrants in the Bronx, Acevedo was just 11 years old when he stood by his father’s hospital bedside, translating complex medical terminology for his mother, who spoke only Spanish. His father had been admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain, and over the course of nine months, he experienced multiple complications that no one could seem to explain. There were communication challenges, missed opportunities for critical intervention, and ultimately, a devastating loss; Acevedo’s father died from an adverse reaction to medication.

In that moment, he experienced firsthand how the health care system can fail certain populations. It became the driving force behind his decision to become a doctor.

“Losing my dad wired me differently,” says Acevedo, a current DO candidate in the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM). “It made me think, if I could prevent even one patient from going through what I had to go through, that’s what I aspired to do.”

Many barriers lay between pre-teen Acevedo and his dream career.

He hailed from a close-knit, low-income household where, without his father’s support, his two older siblings and mother survived on housing and food assistance. After leaving the Bronx, the family moved to a community in New Jersey where resources were limited, and opportunities were few.

Acevedo knew becoming a doctor would require him to go to college, but as the first in his family to even consider attending, he didn’t know how or where to apply. He started at a local community college, earning his associate’s degree, then transferred to Rutgers University for his bachelor’s degree. He later completed a master’s in biomedical science at Rowan. This year, he graduates from Rowan-Virtua SOM and will begin an Internal Medicine residency at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he selected the primary care track.

“I persevered despite having to go through so many obstacles,” he says. “I’m very proud of that fact.”

Acevedo takes special pride in helping people in underserved communities, where many share his lived experiences. Those experiences shaped his understanding of the importance of dignity in care and reinforces his belief that meaningful work is rooted in serving others. That perspective has guided Acevedo throughout his educational journey at Rowan, where he found purpose in work centered on service and community impact. 

During his first summer of medical school, Acevedo traveled to Costa Rica on a medical mission, providing care in Spanish to patients in remote areas with limited access to health care. As president of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) chapter at SOM, he revitalized the chapter and expanded its reach by leading hands-on service efforts in communities like Camden and Trenton in partnership with organizations such as the New Jersey AHEC Program, which is operated by Rowan-Virtua SOM. His commitment to service continued throughout his career at SOM and most recently he stepped into a regional leadership role as LMSA’s Northeast Service Chair, where he now helps coordinate outreach and health initiatives across more than 100 medical schools.

“I like to be hands-on, on the ground where the people in need are, because I know, had my dad had someone there for him when he didn’t know how to navigate health care in this country, a lot of things could have been prevented,” he says. “That’s why I’m always eager to be in these communities doing the work.”

Acevedo says he’s proud of who he’s become, against all odds and expectations: a first-generation college graduate, community advocate, mentor, and DJ.

And soon, he will be a physician practicing exactly where he feels he is needed most. As he looks ahead to residency and beyond, one thing remains certain: his work will always be rooted in service.

“If you asked me where I’ll be in 20 years,” he says, “I promise you, it will be in an underserved community. Advocating for and caring for those too often left behind.”

Every spring, Rowan University highlights one graduating student from each school and college. Read more stories about this year’s featured graduates.