Dr. Antonio Webb, a top-rated spinal surgeon who often works with the San Antonio Spurs, recently hosted a health careers fair for local high school and college students at the Spurs Impact Center.

A Day of Career Exploration

The event, which was held on June 6, aimed to introduce students to various careers in the healthcare industry. Dr. Webb, who is also a founding partner at the South Texas Surgical and Specialty Group, wants to encourage students to consider careers in healthcare, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

Webb’s journey to becoming a surgeon is an inspiring one. Growing up in a family affected by gang violence, drugs, and the justice system, he joined the military after high school and later completed medical school, residency, and a fellowship. He has written a book about his experiences, titled “Overcoming the Odds.”

The health careers fair featured workshops and demonstrations by various healthcare professionals, including orthopedic residents, optometrists, cardiologists, and sports medicine physicians. Students had the opportunity to learn about different medical specialties and gain hands-on experience with medical equipment.

Dr. Webb’s efforts to inspire and mentor students are part of a larger initiative to address the lack of diversity in the medical field. According to him, less than 5% of physicians in the country are Black, and the numbers are even lower in San Antonio.

The Spurs Impact Center, which is currently under renovation, aims to become a community hub that hosts events and programs focused on workforce development, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The center’s chief impact and inclusion officer, Patricia Mejia, said that the organization is committed to supporting leaders like Dr. Webb who want to give back to the community.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.