By Saira Cabrera

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – SEPT. 22, 2025 – Each September, Women in Medicine and Science Month recognizes the achievements of women who are advancing healthcare, research and education.

At the UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV, this celebration highlights the next generation of female leaders who are shaping the future of academic medicine.

This year, three UTRGV medical students – Veronica O'Brien, Nina Mourão and Tori Sayers – are representing the institution in national research and mentorship programs. Their work addresses pressing health challenges in obesity, neurology and vision science, while reinforcing the mission of academic medicine: to combine innovation with compassionate care and deliver a meaningful impact to the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.

INVESTIGATING METABOLISM AND OBESITY AT HARVARD

For Veronica O'Brien, a first-year medical student from Lubbock, Texas, this summer meant stepping into the laboratories of Harvard's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center through an internship supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Her project focuses on the molecular evolution of carnitine synthesis pathways, a key component of the body's energy metabolism.

O'Brien is particularly interested in how patients respond to obesity treatments like GLP-1 therapy. Using advanced techniques such as genetic editing and proteomics, she is uncovering why therapies work for some patients but not others.

"This experience is teaching me how to look at obesity at the molecular level," O'Brien said. "I hope to bring these skills back to the Valley to expand research that directly addresses the metabolic health challenges in our community."

Her passion for medicine began with her parents – her father, a nurse, and her mother, a clinical laboratory scientist – who introduced her to both the human and scientific sides of healthcare. That foundation grew stronger when she worked as an ER technician during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she saw the difference medical professionals could make in moments of crisis.

TRACING SYMPTOMS AND BREAKING BARRIERS IN NEUROLOGY

Nina Mourão, also a first-year medical student, spent time at the University of Virginia through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Clinical Mentorship Program. Under the guidance of Dr. Robert Shin, she is studying multiple sclerosis (MS) – its early signs, diagnostic criteria and long-term management strategies.

Neurology has long fascinated Mourão, who compares the specialty to "solving a complex puzzle." Her focus on MS stems not only from its scientific complexity, but also from its history and disproportionate impact on women.

"The earlier we catch MS, the better the outcomes," Mourão said. "Through this program, I'm strengthening my ability to recognize those signs so that patients can receive care sooner and live fuller lives."

The program also emphasizes health disparities and social determinants of care, aligning with Mourão's goal of becoming a physician who advocates for equitable and accessible healthcare.

ADVANCING VISION SCIENCE THROUGH PROTEOMICS

As a second-year medical student, Tori Sayers from Arvada, Colo., is already building a strong research foundation. She joined the Short-Term Research in Vision and Eye Health (STRIVE) program, where she is using cutting-edge proteomic techniques to study age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older adults.

By analyzing spatial changes in protein expression in human eye tissue, Sayers aims to uncover insights that could lead to earlier diagnoses and more effective therapies.

"The eye may be small, but its impact on quality of life is immeasurable," she said. "This project shows me how precision medicine can shape patient care, and it motivates me to bridge research with clinical practice in my career."

Her inspiration to pursue a career in medicine began while working as a scribe, where she saw firsthand how a single diagnostic decision could profoundly impact a patient's life. For Sayers, ophthalmology represents both intellectual challenge and the opportunity to preserve one of the most essential aspects of human experience: sight.

BUILDING A HEALTHIER FUTURE

Together, O'Brien, Mourão and Sayers reflect the strength of the UTRGV School of Medicine's commitment to academic medicine – training physicians who are not only skilled clinicians but also researchers determined to improve health outcomes in South Texas and beyond.

"These students are tackling some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today," said Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of UTRGV School of Medicine and chair of Medicine. "Their work demonstrates the power of curiosity, innovation and service."

As Women in Medicine and Science Month continues, their stories showcase that the progress in medicine comes not only from groundbreaking research but from a dedication to ensuring that knowledge serves people, families and entire communities.