July 15, 2009
New Medical School Offers Hope on the Border
EL PASO — The location of the first, full-fledged medical school on the
United States/Mexico border is almost surreal- nestled in the bustling
central district of El Paso, it sits just a stone’s throw away from
embattled Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
El Paso, the largest international metroplex in the world, is a blend of
cultures and traditions. It is a progressive town, yet the region is faced
with a growing problem- a dearth of doctors, 40 percent fewer than the
nation’s average. Today, there are still neighborhoods in the county without
electricity and running water. Third-world diseases such as the plague and
leprosy exist here.
A decade ago, El Pasoans had a dream to build a medical school to alleviate
the shortage of health care providers. And at a time when good news was hard
to come by, the undying spirit of a community persevered. This summer, the
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. School of Medicine
became a reality as it welcomed its inaugural class of 40 students. As the
first students to study at the only four-year medical school on the
U.S./Mexico border, they will emerge as leaders in the areas of Border and
Hispanic health and research.
The school will be unrivaled in educational, research and health care
opportunities. Understanding Hispanic and border health issues will help
scientists and physicians better understand the nation as a whole.
Biomedical research conducted in El Paso will take on enormous importance
and form the base of knowledge for our country’s current and future needs.
The school’s unique curriculum is consistent with modern scientific
principles and stresses the highest ethical standards, combined with the
delivery of compassionate, culturally appropriate care and consistent with
the unique needs of the community.
On August 1, 2009, The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L.
Foster School of Medicine inaugural class will don their white coats and
embark on their journey to improve the face of health care on the border and
beyond.
Special Interest Stories:
. Founding Dean Jose Manuel de la Rosa, M.D.- Many people worked
hard to establish this medical school, but one of the most prominent
supporters is native El Pasoan Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Founding
Dean Jose Manuel “Manny” de la Rosa, often called the father of El Paso’s
Medical School. Dr. de la Rosa excelled in his studies to become a
well-liked pediatrician in El Paso. He was later appointed as regional dean
of the TTUHSC School of Medicine at El Paso, and most recently as founding
dean. His commitment to this border community is unwavering. He is described
as a humble man who is devoted to his wife and six children.
. CEO/President Western Refining, Paul L. Foster- Another important
player in the school’s creation was Paul L. Foster, CEO and president of
Western Refining, Inc. When the school’s progress was dismally stalled,
Foster gave a $50 million endowment to reinvigorate the project. This proved
to the world that El Pasoans wholeheartedly supported the creation of a
medical school on the border. In addition, many other El Pasoans contributed
financially to the school.
. Medical Students:
Nelly Estrada, 21 – Estrada, a native El Pasoan, attended the University of
Texas, Brownsville on a chess scholarship. She won five national chess
championships in Mexico and one in the U.S. She decided to use her chess
decision-making skills to launch a career in psychiatry after medical
school. She says chess taught her self-discipline and that she must work
hard to achieve her goals. She plans to stay in El Paso to practice
medicine.
Thomas Tullius, 24 – Tullius, a native El Pasoan and 2007 Princeton graduate
with a degree in chemical engineering, worked with Global Alternative Fuels
helping to create biodiesel before applying to the Paul L. Foster School of
Medicine. Tullius believes his engineering background will help him become a
better doctor.
. Curriculum -Paul L. Foster School Medicine students will use a
curriculum model different from most other medical schools. Instead of
learning each subject separately during their first two years and then
integrating those subjects when they see patients during the second half of
their time at the school, students will learn through a clinical
presentation method, which immediately integrates all aspects of a
particular condition.
. Mentor Family Course- Students at the Paul L. Foster School of
Medicine will be matched with families from the region to promote a better
understanding of the world behind the patient. Many El Paso families are
impoverished and uninsured.
Some often travel to Mexico for prescriptions and treatment. Through the
Society/Community/Individual course, students will be exposed to the daily
life and cultural sensitivities of their patients, a lesson that cannot be
taught in the classroom.
. Research – The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine will play a
crucial role in identifying research that impacts those living along the
border, primarily within the Hispanic population. Four Centers of Excellence
have been established to provide an interdisciplinary and cross-discipline
approach to translational, clinical, and basic science research. The centers
will focus on infectious disease, Hispanic breast cancer, obesity/diabetes,
and neuroscience/trauma.