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In this powerful and personal episode of The Modern Latino Podcast, we sit down with our fraternity brother from St. John’s University, Dr. Santiago Arruffat, a colorectal surgeon and practice owner, to talk about a topic that’s becoming impossible to ignore — the rise of colon cancer in younger adults.

But this episode is about more than medicine.

Born in Spain and raised in the streets of the Bronx by a Spanish mother and Puerto Rican father, Dr. Arruffat shares the story of how determination, discipline, and refusing to give up on himself helped him achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. From St. John’s University to medical school in Puerto Rico, and eventually building his own surgical practice, his journey is a powerful example of perseverance and purpose.

We also discuss the challenges of building a medical practice, and what he’s seeing firsthand when it comes to colorectal health - especially within the Latino community.

We also get real.

Gene opens up about his personal experience with diverticulitis, including the moment it became serious and required surgery. His story brings this conversation home in a way that every listener can relate to.

Together, we break down:

• Why colon cancer is increasing in people under 50
• Cultural barriers in the Latino community around screening
• What a colonoscopy is really like (and why it’s not as scary as you think)
• How early detection can save your life

This is more than a health episode - it’s a conversation about awareness, perseverance, prevention, and taking action before it’s too late.

If you’ve been putting off getting checked, this episode is for you.

Listen, learn, and share this with someone you care about.

For more information or to connect with Dr. Arruffat and his team, visit his practice website:

Evansville Colorectal Surgery

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The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.