MedFuture Cohort Announced
Texas Tech Health El Paso, UTEP Announce Third MedFuture Cohort
Program educates our Borderplex region's next generation of health care heroes
On June 9, Texas Tech Health El Paso and The University of Texas at El Paso announced the third cohort of students selected for MedFuture, an initiative that jointly admits talented high school seniors from West Texas to college and medical school in El Paso.
MedFuture aims to uplift students who are passionate about medicine and committed to serving our Borderplex region. Six accomplished high school seniors were selected by a committee made up of faculty and staff from UTEP and Texas Tech Health El Paso. The students received admission to UTEP and conditional acceptance to Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Foster School of Medicine upon completion of their undergraduate degrees.
“We’re proud to welcome our third MedFuture cohort in collaboration with UTEP,” said Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of Texas Tech Health El Paso. “Each year, this program opens doors for outstanding local students who are passionate about medicine and dedicated to serving our Borderplex community. By investing in homegrown talent, MedFuture strengthens our region’s health care future and helps meet the growing demand for physicians in El Paso and beyond.”
“This program enrolls the best pre-med students in the region at UTEP and prepares them for medical school at Texas Tech Health El Paso,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “By working together, we can identify and develop exceptional students and educate doctors who want to serve the region.”
Meet the Third MedFuture Cohort
Siena Cameron – Montwood High School
Maria Garcia – Clint Early College Academy
Jovanna Gomez – Clint Early College Academy
Mia Gomez – Pebble Hills High School
Melania Joy Martinez – Loretto Academy
LeeAnn Morales – El Dorado High School
Jovanna Gomez, a graduate of Clint Early College Academy, brings a powerful mix of personal motivation and hands-on experience to the third MedFuture cohort. She’s been a volunteer at University Medical Center of El Paso for the past three years. Walking the halls of the hospital and connecting with patients helped solidify her calling.
“I remember being in the elevator when a hospital staff member told me, ‘You really belong here.’ He said he saw me glowing, smiling — and that’s when it really clicked. I realized this is what I want for my future,” Gomez said.
Her passion for medicine also stems from personal loss. After her grandfather passed away from a heart attack, she felt a deep desire to become someone who could help others heal.
“Being the source or the pathway to someone else’s healing—that amazes me. I want to be that person,” she said.
Gomez, who is already a junior in college through her early college program, hopes to become an OB-GYN.
This summer, she’ll take another major step in her medical journey, joining the prestigious Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She was one of 12 students in the entire U.S. chosen for the research opportunity and will work under Dr. Gary Whitman, director of the department of breast imaging.
Gomez begins the internship just six days after graduating from high school.
“This experience will give me hands-on exposure to diagnostic tools like mammography, ultrasound and MRI — skills that are essential in women’s health,” said Gomez. “This program will help me understand how imaging plays a critical role in diagnosing and treating patients, and it will strengthen both my research and clinical foundation as I prepare for a future in medicine.”
While completing their undergraduate studies at UTEP, MedFuture students benefit from robust pre-med support, including participation in the UTEP PREP summer program to help establish a strong academic foundation.
As the first program of its kind in West Texas, MedFuture brings together two independent universities to create a groundbreaking educational pathway. Beyond preparing students for medical school, MedFuture has the potential to transform the lives of local families by opening doors to high-income careers in healthcare right here in the Borderplex.
Progress of Previous Cohorts
Members of the first MedFuture cohort have led outreach activities by speaking to high school students and hosting an informational table during UTEP’s New Student Orientation. Two members of this inaugural group, Makena Piñon and Max Serrano, were selected for the highly competitive Texas Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), which guarantees admission to a Texas medical school. The other two students, Janelle Navarrette and Luke Briggs, will begin scribe training this summer and will work at the Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso’s Family Medicine Clinic.
The second MedFuture cohort recently completed their first academic year at UTEP and will follow in the footsteps of the first cohort by beginning their UTEP Summer Research Internship. In addition to research, they’ve participated in professional development workshops. One of the second cohort members, Crystal Armenta, has also been accepted into JAMP.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. 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.
With a focus on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals over the past decade, and will include dental graduates beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.
About UTEP Health
UTEP Health is a comprehensive initiative of The University of Texas at El Paso aimed at elevating the standard of healthcare in the Paso del Norte region. It encompasses more than 4,400 students in the College of Health Sciences, the College of Nursing, the School of Pharmacy and other health professions, programs and research. With an active research portfolio of nearly $67 million, UTEP Health is at the cutting-edge of research that focuses on the unique issues of the border region.
UTEP Health is the largest producer of graduates in healthcare professions among colleges and universities in the Paso del Norte region. UTEP Health faculty and students consistently demonstrate excellence in research, education and community engagement. Through their unwavering dedication, they foster well-being and contribute to the advancement of healthcare in our community and beyond.