By Saira Cabrera

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – AUG. 27, 2025 – The son of farmworker parents who labored in the crop fields that sustain Rio Grande Valley families, Dr. Leonel Vela grew up with limited resources but deep resilience. That determination carried him through Stanford, Baylor College of Medicine and Harvard, ultimately guiding him back home to South Texas.

As he retires at the end of August from his roles at the UTRGV School of Medicine – including founding senior associate dean for Medical Education, founding chair of Medical Education and division chief of Population Health – Vela leaves behind a legacy rooted in personal triumph and collective transformation. 

A VISION BEYOND A CAMPUS

When Vela interviewed for a leadership role in Harlingen in the 1990s, he made his intentions clear. The concept of a Valley medical school was divisive at the time, with communities competing for resources. 

A founding leader of the UTRGV School of Medicine, Dr. Leonel Vela dedicated his career to advancing population health, mentoring medical students, and expanding access to care across the Rio Grande Valley, building a legacy that will impact generations to come. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

"I told the committee, if you want me as your regional dean, understand this: my goal is to build something strong enough that one day it becomes a medical school," he recalled.

This conviction guided every step of his career. From serving as founding dean of the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) to leading the accreditation for the UTRGV School of Medicine, he never wavered in his vision that Valley students should have the opportunity to train as doctors without leaving their community. 

Colleagues describe him as compassionate, committed and a mentor who listens with purpose. For students, he has been a guiding light – proof that roots in humble soil can grow into something extraordinary.

"Dr. Vela made us see that we could make a difference right here at home," said Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean and chair of Medicine. "His impact will be felt for generations to come."

Under his leadership, population health became more than just a curriculum; it evolved into a philosophy. He championed programs that bridged medicine and community outreach, ensuring future physicians were equipped to lead with empathy.

A BUILDING WITH OPEN ARMS 

Among his proudest achievements was helping design the Harlingen RAHC building, which is now the UTRGV Harlingen Clinical Education Building. Working closely with architects, Vela requested a structure that symbolically embraced the Valley.

The result: arms of concrete and glass extending outward, uniting communities once divided by competition. Inside, a rendering showed a weathered car parked outside. While some suggested removing it, Vela insisted it remain.

"That car represented a Valley family bringing their child to see where they could fulfill their dream of becoming a doctor," he said. "It symbolized the next generation who wouldn't have to leave the Valley, like I did, to study medicine." 

As the faculty marshall, throughout his tenure, Dr. Leonel Vela helped lead 10 White Coat Ceremonies, six commencements and six Match Days – seeing more than 300 medical students graduate from the medical school in South Texas. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

As a tenured professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, teaching has been one of his greatest joys.

"It's the best part of my week," he often said. 

This year, as chair of Admissions, he celebrated a milestone – 58 percent of the incoming class hails from Valley communities. 

"That was the dream," he said. "Students from Roma, San Juan, Raymondville and Brownsville – this is why we worked so hard. They'll be the ones to transform healthcare here at home."

A LEGACY OF FAMILY AND FAITH

While his professional impact spans decades, his foundation is deeply personal. He and his wife, Alicia, raised four children – three in healthcare – and he now treasures being a grandfather. The values of sacrifice, perseverance and faith instilled by his farmworker parents continue to guide him.

"I promised my parents I'd come back, and I did," he said. "Being able to serve my own community – it's been the greatest blessing of my life."

Even though he is retiring, Vela hopes to remain connected to the School of Medicine through teaching and scholarships. "We haven't yet seen its full potential," he said. "The best is still ahead." 

THE MURAL THAT WASN'T

One dream remains unfinished. During construction of the Harlingen building, Vela envisioned a mural chronicling Valley history alongside the story of medicine. Plans stalled, and it was never realized.

He doesn't see it as a loss, but as a symbol.

"Maybe it wasn't meant for me to finish," he reflected. "Maybe it's waiting for the next generation. Just like this school, the work is never really done – it keeps growing." 

For the Valley and UTRGV, his retirement is bittersweet. Vela's journey from the fields to the forefront of medical education is more than a personal success; it is a community triumph.

"Medicine here was never about buildings or titles," he said. "It was always about people helping people in need of hope and healing. That's the story I hope continues long after me."

Through decades of leadership and a deep commitment to his community, Dr. Leonel Vela helped shape the future of healthcare in South Texas, inspiring students to serve with compassion and ensuring that underserved populations remain at the heart of medical education. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)