Alumni in Medicine: Angela Dixon Guerrera, M.D. ’99

• Emergency Medicine Physician
• Instructor of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
• M.D. Drexel University College of Medicine
• B.S. in Business Science, University of Notre Dame

“MFS helped me to be multifaceted and encouraged academic and extracurricular curiosity.”

Describe your responsibilities and day-to-day work.
I currently work nocturnal shifts in several hospitals in the South Jersey area in the emergency department. I am responsible for any emergency that may come through the door from your common cold to heart attacks and strokes. You often have to prioritize several emergencies at once and determine what is the most acute and what needs immediate intervention. I decided to pick this field because of the variety of complaint and treatment. Most of my hours are at a small community hospital where I am one of two total doctors in the hospital.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The most rewarding part of the job is the ability to make people better in a short period of time. I love to see the smiles that people have once treated. A lot of diagnoses require subspecialty attention, however in some instances support and reassurement is  all that is needed. I spent some time in Haiti doing service work where resources are so limited, however the amount of appreciation from those folks truly in distress was very rewarding.

How did your passion for medicine/health care begin and were there any specific experiences that had an impact on you?
I knew I wanted to be a doctor by the time I was five years old. I had my own medical diagnosis as a young child that required me to go to the very emergency department where I trained and then eventually through to Children’s Hospital Philadelphia. Even though I did not have a regular relationship with my physician, I did see him annually for about ten years. I thought it was very impressive the way he was able to make me better. It impacted me at a young age, and I felt like he truly cared and was able to  make a difference in my life.

How has your Moorestown Friends education served you in your career and life?
MFS helped me to be multifaceted and encouraged academic and extracurricular curiosity. I was taught how to manage multiple activities as well as academics. We were able to have ownership of our schedule and decide where our focus should be. I was very active in athletics which taught me time management, commitment, community and teamwork. I felt well-prepared to play lacrosse at Notre Dame while majoring in science business. I didn’t have to commit to one path or one sport at MFS which gave me confidence when heading into a larger environment in college. I was able to explore many different interests, thrive and feel successful, not pressured or pigeon-holed.

Do you have any additional MFS stories or memories you would like to share that were influential in your life?
Winning the Friends Schools League championship in lacrosse for two years and going deep into the state playoffs, despite small class sizes compared to many public schools was a great underdog success story. We sang “We Are The Champions” on our somber bus ride home from our loss. We kept our heads high… a very proud moment. At this level I felt I had the best coaching of my life. I learned to overcome adversity and the importance of playing as a team.

I also have fond memories of my AP classes with Dr. Kreider and Mrs. Hockensmith. They were challenging yet encouraging.

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