Juan Romagoza

Juan Romagoza emerges as a figure whose life powerfully embodies the intersection of medicine, activism, and human rights in El Salvador's civil conflict and its aftermath. Originally destined for the priesthood, Juan's decision to become a doctor instead reflects his practical commitment to helping others, particularly through his work with rural campesinos in grassroots clinics. His close relationship with Archbishop Romero and his witnessing of state violence against a student protestor mark his transformation from medical practitioner to political actor, though he never abandons his fundamental identity as a healer.

The brutal torture Juan endures at the hands of the Salvadoran military, including being shot in his dominant arm to prevent him from performing surgery, represents a pivotal moment in his story. Yet rather than being defined by this trauma, Juan demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptation. After escaping to Mexico and eventually reaching the United States...