By Heriberto Perez–Zuñiga

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MAY 8, 2025 – The final seconds tick down. The room buzzes with anticipation, a chorus of families, friends, and future physicians holding their breath. Among them is Carlos Cisneros, a UTRGV School of Medicine medical student in the Class of 2025, who clutches his envelope with the answer to the future he’s spent a lifetime working toward. 

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This is Match Day, and in just a few moments, Cisneros and his classmates in the UTRGV Graduating Class of 2025 will find out where they will take the next step in their medical journey. He stands surrounded by loved ones, each heartbeat echoing the energy in the room. 

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A Brownsville native, Cisneros, has carried the dream of the medical white coat with him since childhood – since the day he watched doctors save his mother’s life. 

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That moment, he said, became the foundation for everything that followed.

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He takes a deep breath … closes his eyes as anticipation peaks.

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The buzzer sounds. Cisneros tears open the envelope and smiles. He has matched to his first-choice medical residency program, pathology, at the University of Colorado Denver.

“I knew I wanted to help save lives and keep families together like the doctors did for mine,” Cisneros said. “That experience just inspired me to want to be like those physicians.”

FULL CIRCLE

Cisneros was just 6 years old when his mother was diagnosed with leukemia and began treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He didn’t fully understand the science back then, but he did understand what mattered.  

Doctors had given his family another chance.

Almost 19 years later, his mother remains in remission and continues to be the driving force behind his calling.

His journey comes full circle this year as he prepares for the UTRGV School of Medicine Commencement in May, right in time for Mother’s Day weekend.   

“My mother and other cancer patients I have met have been my inspiration,” he said. “That’s why I fell in love with pathology. It allows me to care for patients through diagnostics, lab medicine, and even research. It’s a broad specialty with so many opportunities to help people.” 

Cisneros sees pathology as more than a career. It’s a way to make a meaningful impact, especially in underserved regions like the Rio Grande Valley, he says. And the UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center, set to open in 2025, further cemented his hope that high-quality specialty care can thrive in his community.   

The UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center will offer comprehensive cancer care to Valley residents right in their backyard, Cisneros said. It’s a state-of-the-art center that will provide several oncology services, such as diagnostic imaging, infusion therapy and outpatient cancer care.

“It will feature cutting-edge treatment options for Valley patients,” he said.

Carlos Cisneros, UTRGV School of Medicine Class of 2025, stands with his parents, Carlos Cisneros Sr. and Lynda Cisneros, during a recent Match Day celebration. He said he is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that helped shape his journey. (UTRGV Photo by Heriberto Perez-Zuniga)

VALLEY MADE

While Cisneros’ journey through medical school has not been easy, it has been transformative. After graduating from UT Austin with a degree in Biology, Cisneros returned to the Valley to train at the UTRGV School of Medicine, an experience he describes as life-changing.

“UTRGV gave me so much, amazing professors, supportive residents and incredible mentorship,” he said. “The faculty was genuinely invested in my success.” 

Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, said students like Cisneros are the future of medicine and a powerful example of what it means to be Valley-made. 

“The Class of 2025 is driven, compassionate, and deeply connected to their communities,” Cobos said. “We know they are graduating ready to tackle the challenges ahead. They represent what’s possible when talent is nurtured at home, and we know they’ll carry that Valley and UTRGV spirit into everything they do.” 

As graduation approaches, Cisneros is filled with pride, not just for what he has accomplished, but also for the opportunity to represent his community on a national stage.

As he walks the stage to accept his medical degree this May, one thing will be clear. His story began with his mother’s strength. And now, it continues with his own.