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Hometown
La Marque, Texas
Tell us about your journey into medicine or science and what inspired you to pursue your career.
I am a member of the inaugural class of the UTRGV School of Medicine. I graduated in 2020 and completed my residency training in the UTRGV-affiliated Internal Medicine residency program. My family and I lived in a community with limited access to health care, so I saw firsthand how health care disparities affect people.
When I learned of the opening of UTRGV School of Medicine and its mission to bring hope to patients and increase access to care, I knew this was where I could make a lasting impact. UTRGV School of Medicine's mission allowed me to pursue my ultimate goal of narrowing health care gaps in a previously underserved community.
What do you enjoy most about your work at UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV, and what keeps you inspired?
I am excited to care for patients, teach and mentor medical students and residents, and help expand access to rheumatology care in the Rio Grande Valley.
What keeps me inspired is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community that played such an important role in my personal and professional development.
How has the landscape for women in medicine and science changed throughout your career?
Throughout my training, I have seen women become increasingly represented in medicine and take on more visible roles as physicians, researchers, educators and leaders. That representation matters. As a medical student, resident, fellow and now faculty member, I have benefited from seeing women ahead of me demonstrate that it is possible to build a meaningful career in academic medicine while also having a family and pursuing leadership and research.
There is still work to be done, particularly in ensuring women have equitable opportunities for mentorship, advancement and leadership, but I am encouraged by the progress I have seen and by the women who continue to create opportunities for those coming behind them.
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 mother has always been my backbone. I grew up as a single-parent child and am the first physician in my family. So many times, the dream felt almost unattainable. My mother believed in me and encouraged me even when I did not believe in myself. During my second year of medical school, I had my son, Christopher. The years following his birth were challenging as I learned to balance parenthood and medicine. Still, my mother was by my side and helped me accomplish everything I set out to accomplish.
My advice to the next generation of women in medicine and science is not to let someone else's idea of what your path should look like determine what you believe is possible for yourself. There is no single right way to become a physician, scientist or leader. Your path may include detours, challenges, or responsibilities that others do not see, but those experiences can become some of your greatest strengths. Seek out mentors and people who believe in you, permit yourself to pursue ambitious goals, and when you reach a position where you can open a door for another woman, hold it open.
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