Brazilian Heritage Threads Through Dr. Jessyca Campos’ Life and Career
September 10, 2021
When her grueling medical residency merged with the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessyca Campos, D.O., found refuge in a tiny toy poodle named Chanel.
After long hours tending to extremely ill patients, Dr. Campos—now a family medicine doctor at JFK University Medical Center—rebooted her tired psyche by coming home to her ever-supportive husband Daniel and snuggling with their new puppy. “Coming home and having a break from everything with Chanel was a nice way to turn the day off, if I could even do that,” says the newlywed.
A trilingual first-generation American, Dr. Campos’ Brazilian heritage threads through both her work and personal life, sparking fun pastimes and driving her to provide the best possible medical care to diverse patients of all ages.
Q: How does being able to speak English, Portuguese and Spanish help your practice?
A: It allows me to reach different patient populations and make sure they don’t get lost in what they need to do for their health. The most important thing is understanding why they need to take a certain medication or get a certain test.
Q: How does your family’s background influence your goals as a doctor?
A: I think everyone should have the best care regardless of background. When my mom was pregnant with me, she couldn’t completely speak English, and that impacted some aspects of her care. It’s my passion and duty to help patients understand their options, their illness or the different treatments.
Q: How did you become such an avid soccer fan?
A: Being Brazilian, soccer is a big thing in our culture. I grew up with that since I was a baby and played soccer myself through high school. Watching a game with my family is probably the best thing ever—it becomes a party and such an emotional experience, with everyone yelling and cheering. It brings everyone together.
Q: If you could have dinner with any celebrity, past or present, who would you pick?
A: Both Barack Obama and Trevor Noah. Politics aside, Barack Obama seems like a regular guy and it would be cool to pick his brain. In his podcast and on the Daily Show, Trevor Noah is not only funny but talks about different things going on in society. I think the three of us together would be a fun but informative dinner.
Next Steps & Resources:
Meet our source: Jessyca Campos, D.O. To make an appointment with Dr. Campos or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
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