HCAP students pursuing medicine

With the increasing population in the United States, an ever-aging society and the advancement of medical techniques, there is a high demand for skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals in the workforce.

For many students, pursuing a career in medicine is not just a choice, but a calling. Three HCAP students have answered the call and are taking several different paths through the college to position themselves for success post-graduation.

Javien Charles ’25 Epidemiology and Disease Control

As a child, Javien Q. Charles would observe her neighbors and friends struggling with general healthcare issues in the East Houston area. “I grew up in an area where the sense of community was rich, but neither rich in health education nor funds,” Charles said, “and seeing how much worse it was for people without health insurance made me want to make a change.”

She enrolled in public health at UTSA with this goal in mind – to not only practice medicine, but to help the often-underrepresented populations receive fair and equitable healthcare.

“My favorite class so far was Healthcare Systems, taught by Professor Jennifer Quackenbush,” Charles said. “We learned how the healthcare system actually works in terms of insurance, which companies own what and how hospitals run behind the scenes. I never knew how detailed the intricacies of the system were.”

Charles serves on two executive boards at UTSA – the Black Health Professions Organization and the Black Student Union. Her service to these organizations has fine-tuned her leadership abilities as well as made connections that will last long beyond her college years.

“Javien is a public health roadrunner to be proud of,” said Rhonda BeLue, professor of public health. “She balances work outside of campus as a pharmacy tech to help pay for her expenses, serves on the executive board for several student organizations and is involved in research work. She is a public health/health care leader in the making.”

Charles is only halfway through her UTSA career, but already feels prepared for her intended path to pursue a master’s in physician’s assistant studies at UT Health San Antonio after graduation. “UTSA has given us a foundation to start our careers after college because there are so many resources and so many people who genuinely want to help you,” she said.

Gabriella Reynoso ’23

Medical Humanities

As a Mexican-American citizen, Gabriella Reynoso believes very strongly in giving back to her communities. Since high school, she has been looking for ways to pursue medicine in both countries, and found the opportunity with La Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara: UAG School of Medicine.

The school is partnered with Arizona State University and allows students to study for the first two years in Mexico before resuming studies and clinical work in the United States. It won’t be Reynoso’s first foray working in healthcare in Mexico.

“During COVID, I was able to volunteer in my hometown of Ciudad Juarez,” she said. “Compared to my experience working in a nursing home in the States, it was like night and day in terms of availability of supplies and resources. It made me want to serve more in Mexico.”

At UTSA, Reynoso dove into her studies and had led several research projects. One study focused largely on reproductive health with Katelyn Sileo, assistant professor of public health. Reynoso conducted a survey of UTSA students to uncover their knowledge and perspectives on infertility.

That study blossomed to include another UTSA student and a Tulane student as co-leads – and they were invited to present at the American Public Health Association Conference in Boston.

“Gabby’s and my work together on the FUTURE study has yielded important information about how undergraduate students on the health track plan their careers along with their plans for parenthood,” said Sileo. “Through our work together, she has demonstrated leadership skills and intellectual curiosity, which I know will serve her well in medical school and beyond.”

Reynoso plans to continue this line of research throughout medical school. “This project is so important and it’s opened so many doors for me,” she said. “I’ve been able to present at so many places and I’m so grateful to all the mentors who have given me so many opportunities along the way.”

Her passion for medicine and healthcare prevails and UTSA has played a huge role in making those dreams a reality.

Ejike Chime ’24

Health Promotion and Behavioral Science

Ejike Chime was drawn to public health because of its flexibility and diversity. The breadth and depth of the courses were exactly what he was looking for to pursue a career in healthcare administration upon graduation.

Some of his favorite classes in the discipline included Effective Messaging in Public Health and Environmental Health And Safety.

“Even though Ejike's career goals are more focused on healthcare, he has embraced learning about public health and the work that is needed to help our communities,” said Erica Wallace, senior lecturer of public health. “We are proud to have him represent the Department of Public Health and UTSA.”

With the help of Professor Rhonda BeLue, Chime applied and was accepted to the Lewis Scholars' Imhotep Project, an 11-week summer internship program designed to increase the knowledge and skills of underrepresented minority students in biostatistics, epidemiology and occupational safety and health.

“UTSA has opened doors to my future career, especially because of professors who have offered me applications to internships,” Chime said. “I’ve been able to make really great connections.”

Daryn Minst will work for the Baltimore Ravens, Roxana Moreno for the LA Rams and Octavio Lagunes will serve the Indianapolis Colts. The three students joined the athletic training apprenticeship program in the spring of 2022. The process to join the program includes time as an observation student, then upon acceptance into the kinesiology concentration an assignment under a certified athletic training preceptor from the UTSA Athletics program.

All three students served under the guidance of certified athletic trainers Nik Turner, Samuel Hinojosa, Brian Benitez and Justine Humphrey during the fall 2022 football season.

“The students showed up day after day proving they could endure trials that came with camp and season and shined through it all,” Turner said. “The NFL is an experience and opportunity that can set them up for a future in the profession.”

Minst, a senior from McKinney, Texas, was assigned to softball for the spring of 2023. Her Preceptor was licensed and certified athletic trainer Caitlynn Morris. Minst earned her EMT license in 2018 and has been able to use those skills to become exposed to multiple facets of the medical field. Her career goal is to work in the NFL after she graduates with her master’s in athletic training.

Moreno is a first-generation Latina student raised in Eagle Pass, Texas. She played multiple sports and treatment of injuries became something she wanted to learn more about. She was assigned to track for the spring of 2023 with licensed and certified athletic trainers Jayson Vincent and Kaitlin Boothe. Her career goal is to either work at a professional D1 school or the NFL.

“I am very excited to see athletic training at the professional level,” Moreno said. “I’m grateful to have this opportunity as it feels one step closer to my athletic training goals.”

Lagunes comes to UTSA as a first-generation Latino student from Mirando City, Texas. He played four years of football and had his fair share of injuries, leading him to spend quite a bit of time in his athletic training facility. That is what helped him determine that he wanted to become an athletic trainer at the professional or collegiate level. His spring 2023 assignment was with women’s soccer under licensed and certified athletic trainer Shelby Dale.

The UTSA athletic training apprenticeship program provides an experiential learning opportunity for kinesiology majors in the athletic training concentration. Students in the program gain hands-on clinical experience, mentorship, and adhere to the polies and procedures as laid out by the scope of practice in the Texas athletic training law regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Students who complete an apprenticeship program are eligible to earn a Texas athletic training license upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

–Nydia Cabra