This weekend, the UTRGV Schools of Medicine (SOM) held its white coat ceremony for the class of 2030. Importantly, over 60% of the 56 member class are valley natives–the largest share in the school’s history.

Held at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, this was the school’s seventh cohort since its founding in the back half of the previous decade. The SOM has already graduated ~340 doctors, many of which practice in the valley.

It’s important to have representation from the valley in the school given it’s why the UTRGV School of Medicine was founded in the first place. In the 2010s, state officials and universities noticed that the valley was growing at a high rate and did not have the healthcare infrastructure to match. To try and increase the number of doctors in the region, the local medical school is meant to train doctors locally with the hopes that they remain local. Once a student leaves the valley and trains elsewhere, they’ll get hired elsewhere and then it becomes very difficult to come back. By helping them train and get hired here, we make it more likely that they’re able to stay and serve the community.

Aside from the simple numbers benefit of having more doctors in the area, doctors from the area will be culturally attuned to the valley and might be better able to connect with and thus better serve certain individuals. Whether it’s having more doctors that are bilingual or better understanding of regional home remedies, general understanding of this kind can only help them better serve our community.

Congratulations to these 56 individuals who made up the class of 2030. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.