New Health Care Leaders
Texas Tech Health El Paso Celebrates Next Generation of Health Care Leaders
231 graduates honored at three ceremonies for schools of nursing, biomedical sciences and medicine
Texas Tech Health El Paso celebrated 231 graduates on Tuesday, May 20, at the Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso — marking a new chapter for our region’s future doctors, nurses and biomedical scientists.
The ceremonies for the Hunt School of Nursing, Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Foster School of Medicine were a reminder of the university’s mission to eliminate health care disparities across our Borderplex. Since its founding, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated more than 2,600 health professionals, with a majority of them staying in the community.
The commencement festivities followed Monday’s historic ceremony for the university’s first-ever graduating class from the Hunt School of Dental Medicine.
Foster School of Medicine – 107 Graduates
Founded to combat the region’s critical physician shortage, the Foster School of Medicine has helped grow El Paso’s physician workforce by 66% since 2009. This year, a record 21 graduates matched to local residency programs — the highest number in the school’s history.
Across the nation and the globe, another 119 medical students from an estimated 50,000 have learned they will be coming to Texas Tech Health El Paso to serve as resident doctors at the school’s teaching hospitals and clinics.
Among the graduates was Joshua Torres, a first-generation college student who earned three degrees from Texas Tech Health El Paso: a B.S. in nursing., an M.S. in biomedical sciences, and now an M.D. He is one of the 17 Class of 2025 graduates from El Paso.
“Each degree has built on the other — nursing taught me compassionate care, biomedical science sharpened my research skills, and medical school brought it all together,” Torres said. “These experiences have shaped me into a well-rounded physician committed to serving underserved communities.”
Students attending the Foster School of Medicine experience a unique education that includes early clinical training, a medical Spanish requirement, and an emphasis on community engagement and culturally competent care.
Texas Tech University System Regent Pat Gordon, J.D., M.B.A., C.P.A. offered remarks during the ceremony.
Hunt School of Nursing – 96 Graduates
The Hunt School of Nursing celebrated 94 Bachelor of Science in nursing graduates, and two Master of Science in nursing recipients who are entering the profession at a time of urgent national need.
Adolfo Grajeda Jr., a graduate of the Hunt School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, was born and raised in El Paso and is a proud graduate of Americas High School.
“Becoming a nurse means not only being someone’s health care provider, but also becoming an educator, confidant, and advocate,” Grajeda said.
Since opening in 2012, the school has graduated nearly 1,600 nurses — with 90% staying in the area. It is home to the region’s only accelerated B.S.N. program, allowing students to complete their degrees in just 16 months with a curriculum rooted in interdisciplinary teamwork and leadership training.
TTU System Regents Gordon and Shelley Sweatt, Ed.D., delivered remarks at the ceremony.
Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – 28 Graduates
The Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences recognized 21 master’s degree recipients, and seven post-baccalaureate certificate graduates dedicated to advancing scientific discovery. Many will go on to prestigious professional programs, including the Foster School of Medicine.
Alexa Pizarro was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but raised in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region. She attended Americas High School, earned her Bachelor of Science in biological sciences from UTEP, and now has her master’s degree from the Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
“I believed continuing my education would help me grow into a more confident scientist and applicant,” Pizarro said. “One of my goals was to gain hands-on research experience, particularly in cancer biology. I was fortunate to join the lab of Ramadevi Subramani Reddy, Ph.D., and Rajkumar Lakshmanaswamy, Ph.D.”
There, she worked on liver cancer research, studying how a specific protein might help make cancer cells more responsive to a common drug treatment.
Pizarro also founded the Pre-Dental Graduate Student Association, connecting students with mentorship opportunities. She’ll begin her education at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine in July.
TTU System regents Gordon and Sweatt conferred degrees alongside university leadership.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 rural 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 2,400 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.