Meet Karla Perez-Solorzao

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karla Perez-Solorzao a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Karla , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is something I deeply value and is rooted in my personal experiences and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It comes from the inspiration I gained from my father, who demonstrated incredible strength and courage when he risked his life to save someone in a life-or-death situation. That act, along with my years of working in healthcare and the ongoing drive to help others, has shaped my ability to keep pushing forward despite challenges. It’s about staying focused on the mission and remembering that the work we do has the power to make a real difference, even when faced with adversity.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At Healing Heroic Healers, we focus on providing support and wellness resources to the healthcare workers who give so much of themselves every day. Our mission is to ensure that those on the frontlines, who often face burnout and emotional strain receive the care and attention they deserve. We do this through wellness care packages, our H3 Cohort Program, and community CPR classes. What excites me most about our work is seeing the positive impact it has on the lives of these incredible heroes. It’s not just about physical wellness but mental and emotional healing as well.

A key component of our work is sharing the heroic journeys of these healthcare workers through storytelling. We are collaborating with a film director to create a documentary that highlights their stories, struggles, and triumphs. Through this film, we give them a platform to share their experiences, celebrate their resilience, and inspire others with their courage and dedication.

We are also expanding our efforts to incorporate innovative tools like VR training for CPR and Narcan use, as well as exploring partnerships that will allow us to offer even more targeted resources to support healthcare professionals’ wellbeing. Our goal is to build a state-of-the-art wellness center where healthcare workers can access everything they need to recharge, grow, and thrive.

Healing Heroic Healers is more than just a nonprofit; it’s a movement dedicated to uplifting those who often put themselves last. Our brand represents care, compassion, and a commitment to strengthening our healthcare workforce.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey with Healing Heroic Healers are “resilience”, “sustainability”, and a “commitment to community”.

“Resilience” has been crucial in staying focused on our mission, especially in the face of challenges. Healthcare workers experience high levels of burnout, and building resilience allows us to adapt, bounce back, and continue making a meaningful impact. At Healing Heroic Healers, we believe that with the right holistic and natural tools, healthcare workers can recover quickly from difficult conditions. For those early in their journey, I’d recommend building resilience by focusing on perseverance, prioritizing self-care, and keeping the bigger picture in mind. We all fall, but it’s how we get back up that truly matters, and with the right support, you can rise stronger.

“Sustainability” is at the heart of our approach. We believe in providing long-term wellness resources for the heroic healthcare community, while recognizing that ongoing support is always needed. Our goal is to create sustainable practices that ensure healthcare workers have access to resources that support their well-being for years to come. My advice would be to focus on creating systems and partnerships that allow your work to have a lasting, evolving impact, one that can continue to serve the community as their needs grow.

Lastly, “community “is the foundation of Healing Heroic Healers. We are here to serve healthcare workers, but we cannot do it alone. Our strength comes from the collective efforts of those around us, whether it’s our team, the healthcare workers we support, or the partnerships we form. For anyone just starting out, I’d encourage you to focus on building and nurturing a strong community. Create an environment where people feel supported, connected, and heard.

By focusing on resilience, sustainability, and community, you’ll be able to build a foundation for long-term success and ensure that your mission remains true to its values.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The number one challenge we are currently facing at Healing Heroic Healers is recreating a new healthcare culture for healthcare workers, one that emphasizes self-care and well-being as much as their commitment to caring for others. For many healthcare workers, giving and giving has become second nature, and self-care is often seen as secondary. The issue is that while these heroes dedicate themselves to others, they often neglect their own physical and mental health, leading to burnout.

What we’re doing to address this challenge is two-fold. First, we are working to shift the culture within healthcare settings by teaching healthcare workers the importance of placing their own “oxygen mask” on first. We believe that if they can learn to care for themselves, they will be better equipped to care for others in the long run. This includes offering wellness care packages, our H3 Cohort Program, and educational resources that emphasize the importance of self-care.

Second, we are striving to raise community awareness about the mental and emotional toll that healthcare workers face. We want to build a culture where it’s not just about being the “caretaker” but also about recognizing and meeting their own needs. The healthcare system has become more about surviving and pushing through burnout rather than thriving, and our goal is to shift this narrative.

Currently, healthcare workers have access to online wellness resources, but there’s still no dedicated wellness center designed for their unique needs. Healing Heroic Healers is working to create a space where healthcare workers can recharge, grow, and heal. Our goal is to provide personalized, sustainable support, beyond quick breaks or one-size-fits-all solutions—so they can prioritize their well-being and continue their vital work on the frontlines.

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