Fueling Medical Dreams
Alvarez Family Expands Health Scholarships Across Far West Texas
Gift matched by Texas Tech Health El Paso, adding $500,000 to one of the largest Foster School of Medicine scholarships at annual Season of Thanks celebration
As Cynthia Maldonado drives past the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus on her way to work, she recalls conversations she had years ago with her mother during their morning commute to Silva Health Magnet High School. They would discuss the medical school buildings under construction across the street and the possibility of Cynthia becoming a doctor.
Now known as Dr. Maldonado, the physician truly made her mother proud by earning her M.D. from the Foster School of Medicine, largely thanks to a scholarship created by Dionicio "Manny" Alvarez, M.D., and his wife, Alice. Trained in her hometown community, she walks into exam rooms across El Paso, speaking both English and Spanish to patients who need someone who understands not just their symptoms but also their lives. Dr. Maldonado is living proof of what happens when El Pasoans invest in an El Paso student's dream.
Texas Tech Health El Paso held its annual Season of Thanks celebration luncheon on Monday, November 10, on the university campus. During the event, Dr. Alvarez and Alice announced a new $250,000 gift, which the university matched dollar for dollar, generating $500,000 in new scholarships for medical students. Combined with their previous support, the Alvarez family has now gifted over $1.2 million to help students pursuing medical careers in our Borderplex.
“When I met the Alvarez family as a student, I was taken aback by how kind they were,” Dr. Maldonado said. “They’ve opened doors for me and for many other students. They continue to inspire those around them and fuel our drive as we work with patients and improve patient care here in El Paso.”
Her story is one of many changed by the vision of Dr. Alvarez and Mrs. Alvarez — a vision that has grown stronger this month, thanks to their generosity.
A Fall Tradition
The Season of Thanks program was hosted by alumna Lexy Lozano, a graduate of the Hunt School of Nursing and a past recipient of the Laura and Pat Gordon Scholarship. Guests entered the luncheon to the sound of the Lydia Patterson Institute mariachi band, and what followed was no ordinary gathering. It was a gathering of 150 scholarship recipients sitting at tables with 150 community leaders, discussing their experiences at Texas Tech Health El Paso and the future they’re building together to improve health care access in our Borderplex.
Dr. Alvarez, a nephrologist with over 40 years of experience practicing in El Paso, understands the obstacles students encounter. After earning his medical degree from Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez in 1981, he completed his residency at R.E. Thomason General Hospital (today’s University Medical Center of El Paso) and his fellowship at the University of Arizona. His journey demanded sacrifice, resilience and strong family support — experiences that shaped his commitment to making that path easier for others.
“We want El Paso’s next health care heroes to start with confidence, not debt,” said Dr. Alvarez. “Our gift is a promise: we will stand beside you as you learn, serve and lead our Borderplex.”
For nearly 10 years, the Alvarez family has sponsored white coats for Foster School of Medicine students. In 2020, they created the Dionicio and Alice Alvarez Medical Scholarship Endowment, one of the largest endowments supporting medical students at Texas Tech Health El Paso. Now, with this $500,000 pledge, they’re broadening access to more health care heroes.
Three students embody the impact of scholarships established by community champions such as the Alvarez family.
Jillian Serrano — A Mission to Close Health Gaps
Jillian Serrano carries her grandmother’s legacy into the exam room. Her grandmother, a nurse in Mexico, inspired her passion for helping others. A Foster School of Medicine student graduating in 2027, Serrano is a Foster Scholar and recipient of the STARS Scholarship. She serves on the leadership team of the Global and Border Health Society, and pursues clinical experiences with underserved populations.
“This scholarship represents an investment in my future and in the kind of physician I aspire to be,” Serrano said. “It gives me the freedom to participate in global health electives abroad, where I can learn firsthand about health care delivery in resource-limited settings.” After graduation, Serrano plans to pursue a residency in pediatrics with a focus on neonatal intensive care.
Samantha Fraire — Balancing Motherhood and Mission
Samantha Fraire received the Patty & Alan Russell Nursing Scholarship. As a single mother of three, juggling school, clinical rotations, and family responsibilities, financial barriers felt insurmountable until her scholarship arrived.
“This scholarship means more than financial support,” Fraire said. “It represents hope, encouragement and a reminder that my hard work is seen and valued.” She graduates from the Hunt School of Nursing in 2026 and plans to work in the NICU at El Paso Children’s Hospital before pursuing her master’s degree to become a neonatal nurse practitioner.
Melanie Mendiola-Martinez — From Hardship to Opportunity
A dentist’s act of kindness changed Melanie Mendiola-Martinez’s career path from law school to dentistry. When her father had periodontal disease, a local dentist treated him for free. Today, she is a bilingual, first-generation dental student in the Hunt School of Dental Medicine’s Class of 2029.
The university awarded Mendiola-Martinez the Dr. H.V. Whitehill III Dental Scholarship, announced last year during the Season of Thanks. This financial support, the first full-ride scholarship awarded by the dental school, will give her the freedom to make a difference in our community. She plans to build on this legacy of giving by volunteering at the El Paso Baptist Clinic, managing the dental clinic and organizing free monthly tooth extraction clinics.
“This scholarship is a reminder that someone believes in my potential to make a difference,” Mendiola-Martinez said. “It pushes me to keep working hard, stay humble and one day pay it forward.” After graduation, she plans to open a practice in the border region that offers compassionate, quality care and oral health education.
For the Alvarez family and the community gathered that afternoon under El Paso’s autumn leaves, the message was clear: Investing in students is investing in the health of every family in our Borderplex.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is 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.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals since 2013, including its first cohort of dental graduates in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.