Six high school seniors from El Paso have been chosen for the fourth MedFuture cohort, a program designed to help University of Texas at El Paso students get into Texas Tech Health El Paso’s medical school. According to UTEP President Heather Wilson, more than 30 UTEP graduates attend medical school every year.

Program Details

MedFuture provides selected students with pre-medical support while they complete their undergraduate studies at UTEP. This includes a research class in biological sciences and orientation opportunities. The program aims to identify and develop the best students for medical school right out of high school, increasing the likelihood that they will stay in the region and serve the local community.

Sixty-three students from 25 schools in El Paso County applied for the program. A joint committee from UTEP and Texas Tech Health El Paso selected the students based on their grades, commitment to medicine, and potential to become doctors.

One of the selected students, Maya Flores, expressed her surprise and gratitude at being chosen for the program. Despite facing discouragement from others, Flores persevered and is now looking forward to pursuing a career in pediatric emergency medicine, with the goal of working in rural and under-advantaged areas.

Another selected student, Catherine Whitlatch, has always been interested in medicine and took every opportunity to learn skills that would help her achieve her goal of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.