UTRGV FAMILY: Persistence across generations fuels mother-daughter doctorate success

By Amanda Alaniz

EDINBURG, TEXAS – MAY 13, 2026 – Six years ago, the Palomarez family from North Texas reached a rare milestone: Norma Ochoa Urban-Palomarez, her husband Mario Palomarez and their daughter Elvia Palomarez-Acee all graduated from UTRGV’s accelerated online programs together, earning master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Health Sciences.

That shared momentum continues this year as Norma and Elvia prepare to graduate for a second time — now both earning doctorates in medicine and education.

Norma will participate in the Spring 2026 Commencement, earning her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction. Elvia reached her own milestone on May 9, graduating from the UTRGV School of Medicine. With her husband and parents watching from the crowd at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, the future physician matched with her first choice of residency: Family Medicine at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio.

“When I opened the envelope and saw I got my first choice, I couldn’t believe it,” Elvia said. “Not only do you get to go where you want to go, but that program has to want you just as much.”

While their academic paths diverged, the "familia" support remained their primary engine. They drew strength from watching one another persist, providing the encouragement needed to navigate sets of challenges and setbacks without ever quitting.

LOOKING FOR THE SOLUTIONS

Norma, a veteran educator with more than 30 years in the classroom, entered the Doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction Online Program to challenge the “deficit mindsets” and systemic barriers she witnessed facing underserved communities.

While mother and daughter's academic paths diverged, the "familia" support remained their primary engine. Elvia said her husband, Aaron Acee, showed so much support during this journey. “Every morning before clinicals, I had breakfast ready, my water filled, my coffee made...he made sure everything was ready for me," she said. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

“I started the program because I needed to understand the system I was working in,” she said. “I knew my students were phenomenally talented, but I was always having to fight adults to teach kids.”

The journey was anything but linear. While balancing a rigorous curriculum, Norma faced a major setback when her original dissertation path was deemed “unviable,” forcing her to regroup and extend her timeline. During this same period, she moved to care for her 95-year-old mother.

She credits the online structure of the program and the guidance of her professors for providing the flexibility she needed to defend her dissertation, focused on culturally responsive teaching and “lived curriculum” practices, in mid-April.

“When I reached a point where I was ready to quit, they wouldn’t let me. I didn’t have to face that setback alone,” she said. “I couldn’t have done this without Elvia and Mario. When I was struggling, their support was what gave me the strength to keep going.”

CALLING DR. PALOMAREZ-ACEE

For Elvia, the call to medicine was personal. After losing her birth mother to cancer at just seven years old, she spent her youth dreaming of becoming an oncologist. However, her path shifted as she began to delve deeper into the healthcare field.  

After earning her master’s degree from UTRGV the first time, she realized her true calling was in serving her community through broader clinical care. The pivot toward family medicine allowed her to honor her past while addressing the immediate needs of families like her own.

Elvia closed her graduation chapter at the School of Medicine on May 9 at the UTRGV Performing Arts Center. (UTRGV Photo by Heriberto Perez)

Her long-term goal is to help underserved and uninsured populations, and training in the Rio Grande Valley provided that vital exposure to the struggles of accessing health services.

“There’s a large population that doesn’t get health care because of lack of funding or insurance, and I want to bridge that gap,” she said.

Still, Elvia’s medical training included its own challenges. She said she did not pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step on her first attempt.

“It was gut-wrenching,” she said. “But I learned quickly that setbacks don’t mean the end. They just mean you adjust and keep going.”

During that difficult period, her father, Mario, stepped in immediately. Elvia said he dropped everything and drove down to be with her when she needed support most.

“He wrote me a note that said, ‘Never give up without a fight,’ and I’ve kept it with me ever since,” she said.

Elvia also credited the faculty and learning environment at the School of Medicine for helping her stay on track.

“The faculty didn’t just teach us medicine,” she said. “They showed up for us during our hardest moments and never let setbacks define who we were as future physicians.”

PERSISTENCE ACROSS GENERATIONS

Although Elvia and Norma are following different professional paths, they remain each other’s motivation. Both women hope their respective journeys will inspire others to persist through setbacks, remain resilient and redefine success in their own terms.

Norma and Elvia may be earning doctorates in different fields, but both credit Mario as the constant support behind their success, helping them reach the finish line together. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

Norma said her degree opens doors to conversations where she can make change, and that she is not finished yet.

“The goal was never just the degree,” Elvia said. “The goal was what I can now do with it.”

Elvia closed her graduation chapter at the School of Medicine on May 9 — and now it is Norma’s turn. Norma will walk across the graduation stage on Saturday, May 16, to add another milestone to her accomplishments.

To learn more about UTRGV’s Spring 2026 Commencement on May 15-16 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, visit www.utrgv.edu/commencement.