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Growing up as a farmworker in a family of 15, Ramon Resa never imagined he could become a doctor. Abandoned by his single mother, who had 5 kids before she was 20, he grew up in an environment of severe poverty, neglect, and a total disregard for education. At the age of 3, he was picking cotton in the fields of central California.

It was Ramon’s elementary-school teachers who opened his eyes to the idea of education and awakened in him the dream of going to college and becoming a doctor.

It wasn’t easy. He had to overcome low self-esteem, a speech impediment, recurring depressing, prejudice, discouragement, and even opposition from his grandparents, who wanted him to get a factory job and pay them back for taking him in when no one else wanted him.

But Ramon persisted and eventually fulfilled his dream. For the past 20 years, he’s been in private practice in the same California farm region where he grew up. “I see myself in my of my young patients who come from farm-worker families as I did,” he says, “and my mission is to be a role model who cares for their minds and spirits as well as their bodies.”

Ramon is in demand as a public speaker. His presentations inspire, encourage, and educate everyone who has ever hoped for a better life -- and will show them how to achieve it and inspire others as well.

Ramon and his wife, Debbie, have two college-educated children. His son has just enrolled for medical school after graduating from Stanford.

He is also active in community and service organizations such as Rotary and was dubbed “a one-man tornado” for helping to raise more than $100,000 to buy new uniforms for the Porterville high-school band.

He is living proof of how perseverance, resilience, hope, and education can give meaning to a life, and give life to our communities. He never dreamed of becoming a doctor, or even of attending college, until his elementary school teachers opened his eyes to the idea of getting an education.

Even his grandparents tried to kill his dream, insisting that he should get a factory job to pay them back for taking him in. And he had to pay for his college and even medical school education by going back into the fields to work during vacations and summer breaks.

After finishing medical school, he returned to the Central Valley and opened a private practice in the small town of Porterville.

Many of his patients are poor and underserved children much like the child he was.

“I see myself in the children who come from farmworker families,” he says. “I want to be a role model for them – someone who cares for their minds and spirits as well as their bodies.”

At age 3, Ramon Resa was put to work picking cotton and oranges in the fields of Central California. Today, he is a successful pediatrician. After completing medical school, he returned to the same rural area where he grew up. For the past 20 years, he has been treating poor and underserved children much like the child he was.

Out of the Fields: My Journey from Farmworker Boy to Pediatrician tells the inspiring and poignant story of how Ramon struggled to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.

Abandoned by his single mother, who had 5 children before she turned 20, and one of a family of 15, he grew up in an environment of poverty, violence, physical and sexual abuse, alcoholism, and total disregard for education

Ramon’s often lonely and frustrating struggle began in elementary school, when his teachers awakened him to the dream of getting an education.

From that day on, he had to face and overcome low self-esteem, a speech impediment, recurring depression, racism and prejudice, and counselors who tried to push him into wood-shop instead of college prep courses. Even his grandparents tried to kill his dream, insisting that he should get a factory job and pay them back for taking him in.

But Ramon triumphed, armed only with a stubborn belief in himself, the refusal to admit that the odds were stacked against him, and, starting in college, the love and support of his college sweetheart Debbie, who has been his wife for more than 30 years.

Ramon speaks from the heart to any reader -- of any age! -- who has ever dreamed of creating a better tomorrow but is afraid of failure. His story embodies these important life lessons:

• Achieving the “impossible” through resilience, optimism, and persistence
• Why education needs to be a lifelong goal
• How to inspire others to overcome adversity and live out their dreams

Out of the Fields speaks to many audiences, including…

• Every parent who cares about his or her children’s future
• Students, teachers, counselors, and educators at every level
• Doctors, psychologists, social workers, and professionals, but especially those who work with the poor, minorities, and the underserved
• Business, social, professional, religious, and other groups that believe in mentoring young people to achieve their best

Ramon Resa is living proof of his message to readers and audiences everywhere: “Education empowers you to fulfill your dreams – no matter what obstacles you face.”

"I had Ramon speak to our Stanford University Rotary Club members, and he was very concise, clear, and most importantly, emotionally moving. Everyone was in tears after his talk. His presentation was truly excellent. He was easily one of our club’s most motivational and inspirational speakers, not an easy accomplishment since our club is populated with Stanford, Berkeley, and Ivy League alumni from the professional and educational ranks."

NOE PABLO LOZANO, PHD
ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AND DIRECTOR, ENGINEERING DIVERSITY PROGRAMS,
STANFORD UNIVERSITY ,STANFORD, CA

"Ramon Resa’s telling of his Story was one of the most inspirational experiences I have had in my life. After I heard him tell his story, including how much it meant for one person to say, “You are smart enough to go to college,” I decided I had no excuses for putting off mentoring. I’m just starting to mentor my second student, and when I meet with him, Ramon's experience comes to mind."

PHILIP ROSE
CITY MANAGER, LOS ALTOS CA

"Ramon’s story will light a flame in those who care about children, and in the children who are fortunate enough to hear him. He exemplifies a person who will successfully face adversity and try to attain the impossible. I would certainly recommend him as an inspirational speaker for adults as well as children."

LINDA WAUD, PSYD
HEAD COORDINATOR, MENTORING PROGRAM
PARTNERS FOR NEW GENERATIONS, MOUNTAIN VIEW CA