By Heriberto Perez–Zuñiga

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – NOV. 21, 2025 – The early morning sun filters through the classroom windows as a group of middle school students gathers for a lesson that could one day save their lives.

At the front of the room stands Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, a third-year medical student at the UTRGV School of Medicine, ready to talk about a topic that too often goes unmentioned: the importance of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention.

With charts and models on the screen, she explains how a simple vaccine can protect against a disease that has continued to affect women in the Rio Grande Valley. Cervical cancer and mortality rates are approximately 55% higher in the Valley, compared with the national average.

In a region where access to healthcare and education can mean the difference between life and death, Gonzalez Tovar's mission is personal.

"I've lived most of my life in the Rio Grande Valley, and when you see that so many of the conditions affecting our community are preventable, you start asking why," she said. "I wanted to do something to help address those disparities and understand what was causing them."

That drive to make a difference has earned her national recognition. 

Gonzalez Tovar recently received the 2025 Excellence in Public Health Award presented by the U.S. Public Health Service Physicians Professional Advisory Committee, honoring medical students who demonstrate leadership in advancing initiatives to enhance public health and address prevalent health issues within their communities. 

 

This marks the third consecutive year that a UTRGV School of Medicine student has received the award. The previous UTRGV awards were in 2023 to César Sevilla Jr., and in 2024 to Briana Gonzalez DiGrazia.

TURNING CONCERN INTO ACTION

The HPV Education Initiative is among several community health projects that led to Gonzalez Tovar's recognition. Working alongside fellow UTRGV School of Medicine students and Public Health Interest Group officers Maria Lozano Bonilla, Yazeth Gonzalez and Bria Okere, the team partnered with Edinburg CISD and the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services department to provide educational sessions and back-to-school vaccination drives targeting middle school students at a critical age for prevention.

"The Rio Grande Valley is 55% above the national average for cervical cancer, which is a preventable illness," Gonzalez Tovar said. "We wanted to do something that not only educated families but also empowered them to take preventive action." 

The team's efforts also secured a Texas Medical Association (TMA) grant to expand their educational outreach across the Valley and reach more schools, families and communities with lifesaving information about HPV prevention.

The HPV Education Initiative is just one example of Gonzalez Tovar's commitment to improving public health.

Over the past two years, she has helped coordinate a stroke prevention program in partnership with the UTRGV School of Medicine's Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), and founded both the Public Health Student Interest group and Heart of the Valley, student led organizations dedicated to community outreach, health education, and expanding medical services for underserved populations.

"I wasn't expecting this award, but it was nice to receive recognition for all the time and effort I have put into the projects and events we've done so far."

FUTURE HEALTHCARE LEADERS

Born in Colombia and raised in the Valley, Gonzalez Tovar's passion for medicine was inspired by her grandfather's health struggles.

"When my grandfather became very sick, I saw how limited access to healthcare and resources can be, especially in rural areas," she said. "That experience really pushed me to pursue medicine and work toward improving healthcare access for underserved communities."

Through UTRGV, she found both the platform and the mentorship to bring her ideas to life.

"The UTRGV School of Medicine has helped us so much in achieving and pursuing our projects," Gonzalez Tovar said. "Dr. Stanley Fisch, Dr. Beatriz Tapia, Dr. Maurice Clifton, and Dr. Maria de Jesus Muñoz were all incredibly supportive. They helped us take our vision and make it into a reality." 

Working with different departments across the university taught her valuable lessons about collaboration, leadership and persistence, she said.

Muñoz, interim senior associate dean of Student Affairs and Admissions and assistant dean for Educational Affairs and Clerkships, said Gonzalez Tovar's achievement shows the spirit of service and excellence among UTRGV medical students.

"Maria's dedication to addressing health disparities in her own community is exactly what we hope to inspire in every future physician who studies here," Muñoz said. "Her leadership and compassion represent the very best of our student body, and we are incredibly proud of the impact she's making, both locally and nationally." 

As Gonzalez Tovar continues her medical education, she hopes to pursue a career focused on community health and preventive medicine, continuing the work that first inspired her to enter the field.

"It's been amazing to see how much we can do as students when given the right support," she said. "I'm grateful for the opportunities UTRGV has given me, and I hope to keep making a difference in the Valley."