Our story
Dr. Marino Mauro is a remarkable survivor of the brutal war that ravaged South Sudan for decades. He was just a boy when the war broke out and, like so many other children, he became one of the “lost boys” who were forced to flee their homes and seek safety elsewhere. After a harrowing journey, Dr. Mauro eventually found himself in the sprawling Kakuma refugee camp, where he was fortunate enough to come under the care of Sister Luise, a German nun in Nairobi who took him under her wing and provided him with the support and guidance he desperately needed.
With Sister Luise’ help, Dr. Mauro was able to complete his high school education, and he eventually got lucky again when he was chosen to be among the lost boys who were brought to the United States. For Dr. Mauro, the United States represented a land of opportunity and a chance to escape the violence and uncertainty that had plagued his homeland for so long. He was grateful for the chance to start anew, and he worked hard to make the most of his opportunities.
Dr. Mauro went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology from Le Moyne College in 2007, and he was accepted into the Upstate Biomedical Program the following year to do research. However, Dr. Mauro soon realized that he wanted to do more to help people directly, and he applied to the Upstate Physician Assistant Program instead. He felt that becoming a PA would be a good fit for him, as it would allow him to provide much-needed healthcare to underserved communities, including those in his homeland of South Sudan.
After graduating from the PA program in 2012, Dr. Mauro went on to work in underserved communities in Malone, NY, before returning to Syracuse to work in primary care at St. Joseph Hospital. But despite his accomplishments, Dr. Mauro still felt a sense of incompleteness. Looking back at where he came from and reflecting on his visit to Chukudum in 2021-2022, he couldn’t help but cry for his people. The healthcare system in that part of the world was virtually non-existent, and Dr. Mauro knew that he wanted to do something to help.
In 2019, Dr. Mauro went back to school to earn a Doctor of Medical Science degree (DMS) with a concentration in primary care from Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee. He felt that this additional education would allow him to provide even better care to those who needed it most. Today, Dr. Mauro works in primary care at Upstate Internist Group, but he has never forgotten his roots. He remains committed to bringing high-quality healthcare to underserved communities, and he hopes that marinogoodhealth.org, a non-profit organization that he founded will make this dream a reality.