Dr. Maria Carriedo-Ceniceros encourages young people to put their heart and soul into whatever they want to do and never give up.
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Her advice is not surprising. After all, that was her own path to success.
Born in 1961 and raised in the South Bay, she was the youngest of six children. Her dad was a truck driver, and mom worked in a dry-cleaning shop.
“We had limited resources, and it was tough,” she said. “But we never went without basics.
“Our family was very close. My parents were incredible, wonderful hard-working people. We had a small home, but it was not unusual to take in nieces and nephews who needed help. We were raised to give to others and don’t expect anything in return. Give from the heart.”
Neither parent attended college, but they emphasized the importance of education.
Carriedo-Ceniceros took that to heart and graduated valedictorian in 1979 from Sweetwater High School.
“I did well because I was determined,” she explained. “If I put my mind to something, I’m going to accomplish it.”
Encouraged by her oldest brother, she applied to every Ivy League college and was accepted by all of them.
She attended Harvard under a full scholarship, although her family was expected to contribute $5,000 annually.
“I knew my parents didn’t have the money,” she said. “So, I had the bills sent to me.”
Carriedo-Ceniceros worked 40 to 60 hours a week as a waitress and cleaning houses to cover the costs, yet maintained a B average.
After graduating from Harvard in 1983 with a bachelor’s in economics, she worked in computer technology for 10 years, first as a programmer and then manager.
However, in 1993 she was so inspired by the compassionate care her father received during a serious illness that she decided to become a physician.
It would be a long road for Carriedo-Ceniceros, 32 and a single mom to a 2-year-old. She went to live with her mom in Chula Vista and enrolled in pre-med courses at UC San Diego while working part time. Three years later she enrolled in UCSD’s medical school.
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Returning to school after 10 years was challenging and, at times, she doubted herself. But she was determined.
“I’m not a quitter. It was hard, it was tough, but I was prepared for that by years of working nights and weekends.”
In 2000, at age 39, she graduated medical school.
“It was very emotional,” Carriedo-Ceniceros said of her graduation. “My mom and I both cried.”
After three-year residency training, she was hired by San Ysidro Health.
“When I started, San Ysidro Health had only three sites, and they were from communities where I was raised,” she said. “It was a natural fit. I felt comfortable from day one. I had similar lived experiences as my patients.”
San Ysidro Health is a federally qualified health nonprofit serving otherwise underserved areas. “It’s a safety net,” she said. “We don’t turn any patients away.”
Carriedo-Ceniceros acknowledges she could have earned more money elsewhere. Serving patients from her communities, however, “kept the joy of medicine in my heart.”
In 2004, she did accept a higher paying position, but returned to San Ysidro Health eight months later.
“I realized this was my place,” she said. “This is where I belong.”
Today, Carriedo-Ceniceros, 65, and her husband, Pablo, live in Bonita. She is in her 23rd year at San Ysidro Health and 14th year as its chief medical officer.
She oversees more than 500 health professionals in medical, dental and behavioral health. Her achievements include San Ysidro Health’s expansion countywide, creation of an internal residency program and her presidency of Champions for Health Foundation, which supports a network of volunteer health professionals.
She said it’s an honor to know she can affect other people as a role model, adding “it is important for children to see an individual who has similar lived experiences make it.”
In June, 2026, her leadership in the medical profession was recognized when she became the first Latina president in San Diego County Medical Society’s 156-year history.
About this series
Goldsmith is a Union-Tribune contributing columnist.
We welcome reader suggestions of people who have done something extraordinary or otherwise educational, inspiring or interesting and who have not received much previous media. Please send suggestions to Jan Goldsmith at [email protected]
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