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Graduation day is a major milestone in the academic journey, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. This was particularly true for 22 students at the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine who crossed the commencement stage on Saturday, May 11. They were the first students ever to earn a medical degree from the University of Houston.
“The Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine has long been a dream of mine and the University of Houston community,” said UH President Renu Khator. “Conferring a medical degree to this first class is truly a historic moment for UH, our city and state. Most significantly, these doctors have been given a unique education that has empowered them to make a lasting impact on our underserved communities.”
The Fertitta Family College of Medicine opened in July 2020, becoming the first new medical school in Houston in nearly half a century.
“Four years ago, you began a journey of service and dedication to your community leading up to this moment,” said Tilman Fertitta, chairman of the UH System Board of Regents and namesake of the College of Medicine. “It is our hope that this experience and the challenges you overcame along the way have ingrained you with the knowledge, wisdom and tools to provide quality, compassionate health care for our underserved communities.”
For Dr. Stephen Spann, founding dean of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine whose work began four years before the first class arrived on campus, it was a significant moment in his career.
“This is a time to celebrate, not just for our students but for the College of Medicine as well,” said Spann. “What they accomplished these past four years is remarkable and we achieved our goal of training new medical students to be doctors. It’s proof of concept in many ways.”
In 2014, when Khator unveiled plans for a new medical school aimed at producing a diverse group of graduates committed to providing compassionate, high-value and high-quality health care to underserved populations, no one could have foreseen the first class arriving six years later in the middle of a worldwide pandemic.
“Starting a new medical school is never easy, but we started during COVID which made it even more difficult,” Spann said. “I told the students we were building the airplane as we were flying it, but they had grit, and they were adaptable and resilient through it all.”
The inaugural class was chosen from more than 1,700 applicants, each receiving a $100,000 four-year scholarship to cover tuition and fees. More than half of the students were the first in their families to go to college and nearly three-quarters were considered underrepresented minorities in medicine.
“This first class came here with compassion and a unique desire to help medically underserved communities,” said Dr. Brian Reed, professor and chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Fertitta Family College of Medicine. “Fortunately, they didn’t lose sight of their reasons for pursuing medicine along the way.”
Against the backdrop of an unprecedented health crisis, these students accepted their mission and courageously embarked on their medical journeys.
“I wanted to go to a medical school that was committed to primary care, addressing social determinants of health and serving underserved populations," said Dr. Rosemary Agwuncha. "That’s what the Fertitta Family College of Medicine is all about."
As these graduates bid farewell to their alma mater, they step into the world as doctors ready to make an impact on people's lives.
“It’s surreal, exciting and such a blessing to achieve something I’ve been working towards for most of my life,” Agwuncha said. “When I look back on the past four years, I am extremely grateful for my teachers, mentors, classmates and loved ones who’ve helped me on this amazing journey.”
The future of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine is bright as these trailblazers have not only fulfilled their own dreams but also paved the way for future students.
“Please continue to foster your intellectual curiosity and maintain your values through medicine,” said Dr. Ashlynn Mills, a fellow graduate. “This program will grow you in ways you don’t expect, so embrace the process and enjoy the ride.”
The significance of this moment was not lost on those who made this vision of a new medical school a reality.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to support these students in their pursuit of medical knowledge and academic excellence,” Spann said. “Their compassion and commitment to patient care is inspiring, and they will no doubt pave the way for a brighter future in health care.”