By Saira Cabrera

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MARCH 30, 2026 – Every day, physicians enter exam rooms carrying more than a stethoscope or a chart. They bring the responsibility to heal, the patience to teach and the curiosity to advance medicine.

Today on National Doctors' Day, the UTRGV School of Medicine is recognizing physicians whose work reflects all three, clinicians who care for patients while shaping the future of medicine.

One such physician is Dr. Juliana Yang, division chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at UT Health RGV and a professor whose work at UT Health RGV reflects the mission of academic medicine.

Since arriving in the Rio Grande Valley last year from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Yang has expanded access to specialized digestive care while mentoring medical students and residents.

"Medicine is unique because it combines science, problem-solving and human connection," Yang said. "Every patient brings a different story and being able to help them while teaching future physicians is incredibly meaningful." 

Academic physicians like Yang balance three roles: patient care, education and scholarship.

In Yang's case, those responsibilities have grown quickly. In a few months, the gastroenterology service she leads has seen rapid demand, with clinic schedules and endoscopy services expanded to meet the needs of patients across South Texas.

At the same time, she continues to lecture medical students, lead educational sessions for residents and collaborate on academic publications.

THE PURPOSE OF ACADEMIC MEDICINE

For Dr. Everardo Cobos, dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine and chair of Medicine and Oncology, this balance defines the role of an academic medical center.

"To me, this is what an academic physician does," Cobos said. "Dr. Yang is building clinical

excellence and improving access for patients while simultaneously advancing education and scholarship. That is exactly the kind of physician who strengthens both our medical school and our community."

Yang's path to medicine began with a fascination for science and the human body. She earned a degree in neurobiology from The University of Texas at Austin, received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed fellowships in gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy, including specialized training at Johns Hopkins Medicine. 

A MULTIPLYING IMPACT

Today, she brings that expertise to the Valley, where specialty care historically has been limited and where UTRGV’s academic medicine initiatives are helping close the gap.

"What I enjoy most about working at UTRGV is the opportunity to bring advanced GI care to communities that need it most," Yang said. "At the same time, we are training the next generation of physicians who will continue improving healthcare for the region."

That ripple effect is why Doctors' Day exists – to recognize the dedication, skill and commitment physicians bring to improving lives.

For Yang, the reward lies in an impact that extends beyond a single patient visit. 

"When we care for patients while teaching future physicians, the impact multiplies," she said.

On National Doctors' Day, physicians like Yang remind us that medicine is not only a science but also a craft shaped by compassion, knowledge and the responsibility to guide those who will follow.