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Hometown: Mission, Texas
Tell us about your journey into medicine or science and what inspired you to pursue your career.
From a very young age, I knew I wanted to work in medicine. I loved watching medical shows, and when I was 14, I tried to volunteer at my local hospital. They told me I was too young, so I returned the following year. I spent much of my summers at ages 15, 16, and 17 volunteering there, observing the people around me and absorbing everything I could.
I was assigned to the Cardiopulmonary Department, where I helped the department secretary with tasks she may have considered routine but that I found fascinating. Delivering documents throughout the hospital gave me the chance to meet people, explore different departments, and begin to understand how a hospital functioned.
That same hospital later gave me my first job as an EKG technician. I learned quickly and became part of the emergency response team, reporting to the emergency department when critically ill patients arrived and assisting with chest compressions during resuscitations. Those experiences deepened my curiosity and ultimately led me to respiratory therapy. After completing my education, I was selected for a paid internship at a major academic medical center in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
The hospital included Level I adult and pediatric trauma centers and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. I received extensive training across neonatal, pediatric, adult, trauma, neurological, and cardiovascular care.
It was an extraordinary experience that gave me a strong clinical foundation and the confidence to care for patients in highly complex situations. Living near Washington, D.C., also exposed me to the many organizations working to improve health at the population level. I began to see that health is shaped not only at the bedside, but also by education, access, policy, community conditions, and the systems surrounding patients.
That realization inspired me to pursue a Master of Public Health. I later moved to Houston, where I worked in the Texas Medical Center as both a bedside respiratory therapist and clinical faculty member teaching future respiratory therapists. Still, I felt called to return home to the Rio Grande Valley. I joined UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville and continued my education by earning a PhD in Health Science.
My journey has not followed a single, straight path. It has brought together respiratory therapy, public health, health science, teaching, and even my study of American Sign Language—another field I pursued through a genuine interest in language and communication.
Each experience has strengthened my understanding of how we care for people and communities. What began as a young volunteer's fascination with a hospital has grown into a career dedicated to improving health, preparing future health professionals, and serving the region I am proud to call home.
What do you enjoy most about your work at UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV, and what keeps you inspired?
What I enjoy most about my work at UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV is the opportunity to work at the intersection of public health, medicine, and workforce development. Through community health partnerships and the Area Health Education Center program, I bring together students, faculty, healthcare professionals, community health workers, and local organizations to address community-identified needs, expand access to health services, and prepare the next generation of health professionals.
It is especially meaningful to know that my work directly serves our community and helps people who might not otherwise receive care. At the same time, we are creating opportunities for students to learn directly from the communities they may one day serve.
Watching students grow through these experiences and seeing them understand the importance of listening, building trust, and recognizing the realities of patients' lives is incredibly rewarding. I hope these experiences encourage them to remain in or return to the Rio Grande Valley and become part of the healthcare workforce our region needs.
What keeps me inspired is the community itself. The Rio Grande Valley is my home, and I am continually inspired by the knowledge, dedication, and generosity of the people who live and work here. Knowing my work can improve access to care, strengthen connections between the university and our communities, and open doors for future health professionals gives it a deep sense of purpose.
How has the landscape for women in medicine and science changed throughout your career?
Throughout my career, I have seen women become increasingly visible across medicine, public health, research, education, and leadership. More women are entering health and science professions, leading programs and institutions, conducting research, and helping shape how we educate future health professionals and serve our communities.
I have also seen a broader recognition that there is no single path into medicine or science. Women are contributing as clinicians, scientists, educators, public health professionals, community leaders, and in roles that bridge several of these areas.
At the same time, progress in representation does not always translate into equal opportunities, recognition, or influence. Women may still encounter assumptions about their expertise, experience competing personal and professional expectations, and take on important mentoring and service responsibilities that are not always fully recognized.
Continued progress requires more than inviting women into these spaces; it also means supporting their advancement, valuing the different perspectives and experiences they bring, and creating meaningful opportunities for them to lead.
What encourages me most is seeing women support and create opportunities for one another. Mentorship, sponsorship, and visible examples of women in leadership help younger women recognize that they belong and that their contributions are needed. There is still work to do, but I am inspired by the growing number of women who are defining success on their own terms and making space for those who will follow.
Who has inspired you most in your career, and what is one piece of advice you would give to the next generation of women in medicine and science?
My parents have been among my greatest sources of inspiration and support. Even when I was young, they took my interest in medicine seriously, drove me to the hospital so I could volunteer, and encouraged me as I began exploring a future in healthcare. They made many sacrifices so I could pursue my education, and their belief in me gave me the foundation to continue growing, even when the path was not always easy.
I have also been fortunate to encounter many women throughout my career who have guided, encouraged, and mentored me at different stages of my journey. There are too many to name, but each has been equally important. Their willingness to share their knowledge, advocate for me, and help me recognize possibilities I may not yet have seen for myself has shaped the professional and leader I have become. Their example also reminds me of my responsibility to support the women coming behind me.
My advice to the next generation of women in medicine and science is simple: We can do this. Do not allow someone else to define what you are capable of or tell you that you cannot achieve something. I have heard "you can't" before, but I have never allowed it to slow me down. Stay curious, pursue the opportunities that excite you, and keep moving forward—even when your journey doesn't follow a traditional or straight path. You belong in these spaces, and your voice, experience, and perspective are needed.
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