From South Texas to the East Coast

UTRGV School of Medicine former student, now at Harvard, shares how she is succeeding in medicine

By Saira Cabrera

Dr. Adriana Saavedra-Simmons, a 2022 graduate of the UTRGV School of Medicine, walks confidently down the pale hallways of Massachusetts General Hospital – Harvard Medical School, to visit with her patients.

A Valley native, she is now completing her third year as a resident physician as part of Harvard’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. She matched on the annual Match Day celebration on March 18, 2022, on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus.

September is Women in Medicine and Science Month, and celebrates women like Saavedra-Simmons who are making strides in a field once dominated by men. Today, though, more and more women like Saavedra-Simmons are donning the white coat, paving the way for future generations of skilled women to have a career in medicine.

SUCCESS TAKES TIME

“It is amazing to think that it has been 13 years since I first embarked on the pre-medical journey,” Saavedra-Simmons said. “I say this to highlight that success takes time. And that’s OK.”

From self-doubt, to navigating the challenges of medical school and the previously limited resources available in the Valley – a problem addressed by the UTRGV School of Medicine – Saavedra-Simmons said she is grateful for her journey and hopes to pave the way for other Valley students like herself.

“Medicine really is a marathon, not a sprint,” Saavedra-Simmons said. “My advice is to get surrounded by people who lift you up, mentors who offer practical advice on making it to the next step despite setbacks.”

A first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she advises others like herself to have faith and stay positive.

“Imposter syndrome – the self-doubt that often plagues first-generation aspiring physicians – is ever-present,” she said. “Being intentional about practicing a growth mindset and reflecting on our achievements reminds us that we belong in medicine. Paying it forward, along with a strong faith system and mentoring others, all help thwart feelings of self-doubt.”

WE SUCCEED TOGETHER

Saavedra-Simmons grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and understands well the challenges of being an immigrant.

Still, while the Valley too often has been an underserved region, she said, she has learned that difficulties can be overcome.

“While my program at Mass-Gen is rigorous,” she said, “it’s a program filled with the most brilliant and kind co-residents. I have grown so much as a physician and am grateful to train here.”

She is one of the many success stories the UTRGV School of Medicine has produced.

• This year alone, more than half the UTRGV School of Medicine’s Class of 2028 students are women.
• And in total, of the 220 medical students from the UTRGV School of Medicine, 121 are women.

“The UTRGV School of Medicine gave me opportunities to highlight my dedication to serving underserved communities, such as the one I come from,” Saavedra-Simmons said. “Even now, as I apply to endocrinology fellowships, I share the meaningful impact the UTRGV Student Run Clinic had on my growth as a physician.”

As a third-year medical resident, she supervises residents in the ICU, general medicine and cardiac units. She also serves as the code/rapid leader for destabilizing patients in all departments at Massachusetts General.

“It is a privilege to be part of patients’ lives in their darkest moments. I enjoy medicine because it combines pathophysiology with a patient’s story,” she said. “Each story is different, and internal medicine has equipped me to diagnose complex cases.”

Before leaving South Texas for the East Coast, she helped make sure other Valley students would not have to face some of the logistical challenges she had.

“While working full-time in the Valley, I had to travel two hours to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), since there were limited spots in the Valley,” she said. “Later, when the chief academic officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges visited our institution, I advocated for increased testing sites in the Valley.”

Since then, eight testing sites have been added in Texas – including one in the Valley.

“I am proud to pay it forward to decrease barriers for underrepresented students like me,” she said. “I am grateful to God that with the help of mentors and tutors, I became strong academically and can continue on this path.”

As a soon-to-be fellow physician, Saavedra-Simmons has a solid vision of what she wants to do with her medical career.

“I am applying to an endocrinology fellowship. My goal is to return to the Valley to mitigate diabetes disparities through community health initiatives,” she said. “Given that the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center is opening soon, I am also interested in serving as a resource for immune checkpoint inhibitor endocrinopathies.”

Saavedra-Simmons said she is especially grateful for the support she has received along the way.

“We succeed together,” she said, “not alone.”