Pushing Boundaries

When Juan Carlos Ramirez-Tapia ’07 was growing up in Peru, terrorists attacked his family. His father was killed during the assault, and Ramirez-Tapia suffered a spinal cord injury and lost his ability to walk. He was just 7 years old. 

“My mother cherished education, and she wanted me to have as normal a life as possible,” he says. During high school, Ramirez-Tapia represented Peru in a science fair held in Detroit. There, he met some priests from the Congregation of Holy Cross, who encouraged him to apply to Stonehill. 

“I was so happy when I visited the campus because it was accessible. I was able to do everything independently,” he says. But after he graduated with a degree in biological sciences, he encountered several obstacles. He wasn’t able to work in some labs because he couldn’t reach the benches or maneuver his wheelchair in narrow spaces. 
Ramirez-Tapia decided to get his master’s degree in bioinformatics at Boston University, and that led him to the position he has today, as a senior health data analyst for Mass General Brigham. 

He also plays for the Boston Brakers, a power wheelchair soccer team. Last year, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recognized the team’s efforts to support adaptive sports. This summer, the team will compete for the first time in a national tournament at the premier level. 

“My hometown in Peru is always close to my heart, but Boston is my other home,” Ramirez-Tapia says. He advocates for people living with disabilities with the Boston Self Help Center and volunteers with Boston’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities. 

He says, “I continue moving forward, testing myself and pushing boundaries. I’m always motivated to try my best, and I learned that at Stonehill.”