The Odessa Chamber of Commerce welcomed 23 third-year Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center medical students to town with a reception and swag Tuesday.
Held at the Chamber of Commerce, students also heard from Mayor Javier Joven, Regional Dean Dr. Timothy Benton, Ector County Judge Debi Hays, community organizations and other Texas Tech health sciences officials.
All the students were in Lubbock before coming to Odessa for the clinical side of their training.
“It’s exciting to get started. You know, doing a little more hands-on learning; less just in the classroom,” Dakota Tolleson of Wichita Falls said.
Jonathan Jarman of Midland and Sulaiman Karim of Dallas will both be at Midland Memorial.
Jarman starts June 8 in the psychiatry department at Midland Memorial.
Karim said he is nervous and excited.
“If there was a word to combine both of those feelings, that’s how I’m feeling,” Karim said.
Jarman said it’s neat being from Midland, but not expecting to return for any of his higher education.
“Ending up being able to come back down here for third year. It’s actually really cool,” Jarman said.
Mayra Gomez of Houston is in the Family Medicine Accelerated Track.
Instead of the traditional four-year program, it’s a three-year program where you come out and immediately start your residency, said Michael Callaway, regional assistant dean in the Office of Medical Education.
“I love it. So far, it has been nothing but opportunities for me so it’s been a great program and I really appreciate it,” Gomez said.
Dr. Jonathan Burkes, who is from Midland, is now an orthopedic surgeon who went through the program and came back to offer some encouragement to the third year students.
Burkes said it was great to be back home.
“I’m an engineer. My background is engineering and … after all the different rotations it’s the one I liked the most …,” Burkes said.
Chamber President and CEO Renee Earls said the students will learn a lot in their experience.
“You will be learning from some incredible people at Texas Tech and we’re so proud to have them as part of our community, as well …,” Earls said.
Mayor Javier Joven congratulated the students on making it through all their schooling so far.
“The amount of school and the amount of commitment you’ve made to get here is incredible. It’s a tribute to your commitment, your hard work …,” Joven said.
Dr. Casey Mraz, a family physician in Midland, also spoke.
“I work for Midland Health Premier Physicians at the Loop 250 family medicine clinic. … I’m not from West Texas. I grew up in Liberty Hill. It’s a small town northwest of Austin where there are a lot of trees and a lot of water. I moved here in 2014. I followed my husband who was in oil and gas, which is a very common theme we see here. But first when I got here, it was a bit of a shock. But I quickly realized what an amazing place this is,” Mraz said.
“Texas Tech Medical School and the Permian Basin community are so welcoming and supportive. They really want you to succeed. That is absolutely apparent and you will find that out very quickly. I truly feel I’m the physician I am today because of Texas Tech and because of this West Texas community,” Mraz said.
