Historic Class Begins
Largest Class in Foster School of Medicine History Takes First Step Into Medicine
Record-setting Class of 2030 celebrates milestone as 138 future physicians receive their first white coats
For 138 future physicians, a white coat marked the beginning of a journey that will take them from the classrooms of Texas Tech Health El Paso to caring for patients in the Borderplex and beyond.
The Foster School of Medicine welcomed its largest incoming class in history during its 18th annual White Coat Ceremony Saturday morning at the Starlight Event Center. Members of the Class of 2030 donned their first white coats and recited their class oath. The moment affirmed their commitment to the principles and responsibilities they will carry throughout their medical education and future careers as physicians.
Of the 138 members of the Class of 2030, 122 are from Texas, including 22 students from El Paso. Their arrival continues the school’s role in educating future physicians with ties to the state and the Borderplex.
The milestone comes as the school continues to grow its role in educating future physicians. They will be prepared to address the health needs of far West Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border region. Members of the Class of 2030 will train in a region facing significant health challenges, including cancer, adolescent mental health, diabetes and access to healthcare in rural communities.
For Eric M. Rohren, M.D., Ph.D., FACR, dean of the Foster School of Medicine, the record-setting class represents new opportunities for the students and the community.
“This is an exciting day for me, leading my first white coat ceremony at the Foster School of Medicine. I’m looking forward to seeing this class of students learn and grow through their four years with us, as they fulfill their dream of becoming a doctor. And there is no better place to undertake that journey than El Paso, Texas. The students will learn so much from our community.”
Journeys to the White Coat
Eight years before receiving his first white coat at the Foster School of Medicine, Ronnie Lopez was a 19-year-old UTEP student already pursuing his dream of becoming a physician.
A 2018 Teen Vogue profile chronicled the El Paso native's ambitions to attend medical school while he volunteered at a clinic in Tornillo, where he helped translate Spanish for physicians and patients.
The road from UTEP to medical school wasn't a straight one. Lopez spent six years between completing his undergraduate education and entering medical school, navigating personal, family, educational and financial challenges along the way. Through it all, he said the goal he had set for himself years earlier remained.
“Looking back at how excited and hopeful I was then, I can see that spark never really died,” Lopez said. “It's what kept me moving, especially through the hardest years after undergrad. I want to hold onto that as I go through medical school, and later, as I meet patients with their own difficult stories and struggles.”
Receiving his white coat in his hometown also carried special meaning for Lopez and the family whose sacrifices helped him reach medical school.
“Honestly, there aren't enough words. It means the universe to me, because my background never set me up for a professional career,” Lopez said. “My parents were hustlers. They worked housekeeping jobs, sold homemade food on the street, and did whatever they could to keep us afloat.”
For Lopez, choosing the Foster School of Medicine also meant beginning his medical education in the community that shaped him.
“I chose Foster because it's my home medical school, the one here in El Paso, where I was born, grew up and went to school,” Lopez said. “For me, it all comes back to serving my community and the people who share my background and my story.”
For Corbin Bettes, joining the Class of 2030 continues a Foster School of Medicine family tradition. Her brother, Mason Bettes, and his wife, Jessica, graduated from the school in May.
Just months earlier, Corbin watched Mason and Jessica celebrate Match Day as they learned where they would complete their post-graduate residency training. At the time, Corbin was looking forward to beginning her journey at the Foster School of Medicine.
“I’m just so proud of Mason and Jessica, and I feel so honored to be his sister,” Corbin said in March. “He works so hard, and it’s exciting to get a glimpse of what my future will look like.”
Five months later, that future began taking shape as Corbin donned her white coat as a member of the Class of 2030.
Mason's experience at the Foster School of Medicine helped prepare his younger sister for what awaited her in medical school.
“Mason has been a great guide for me throughout my entire pre-med journey,” Corbin said. “He’s been incredibly encouraging and has told me about the closeness of the community here, which is why I’m so excited to experience it for myself.”
Preparing Physicians for the Borderplex
For the Class of 2030, receiving a white coat is only the beginning. Over the coming years, students will learn and train in the Borderplex as they prepare to confront the region's most pressing health challenges.
The Foster School of Medicine began its White Coat Ceremony tradition on Aug. 1, 2009, when it welcomed its inaugural class of medical students. Seventeen years later, the school celebrated another milestone with its largest incoming class to date.
The school's location along the U.S.-Mexico border provides students with opportunities to learn in the communities they serve. These experiences help them develop the skills to meet the region's healthcare needs. The students are trained through a unique curriculum that includes medical Spanish instruction and clinical experiences throughout the Borderplex.
The Meaning Behind the White Coat
The White Coat Ceremony marks an important transition for first-year medical students. Their white coats symbolize compassionate care, professionalism and the responsibilities they assume as they begin their medical education.
The students' white coats are sponsored by generous El Paso-area individuals, and groups whose gifts demonstrate their support for the next generation of physicians.
For the Class of 2030, the ceremony marked a historic first step — one that begins at Texas Tech Health El Paso and will ultimately lead these future physicians to serve communities across our region.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focusing on excellence in healthcare education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated more than 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.