UTRGV medical students take learning beyond the classroom this summer

By News and Media Relations

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – SEPT. 3, 2026 – Three UTRGV School of Medicine students used their summer break to take their medical education beyond the classroom, pursuing opportunities in health policy, research and primary care. 

Second-year medical students Siddarth Vyas and Cole Freedman spent part of the summer in Washington, D.C., through the UT System's Archer Fellowship Program, while Andrea Ramos remained in the Rio Grande Valley, combining research with clinical preceptorships in internal and family medicine.

Though their experiences took them in different directions, each offered a closer look at factors that influence patient care, from healthcare policy and access to research and prevention.

BEYOND THE EXAM ROOM

Vyas, of Dallas, spent the summer in Washington through the Archer Fellowship Program, a competitive UT System program that places graduate and medical students in internships focused on policy and public service.

He interned with Aledade's Population Health Impact team, where he developed a proposal aimed at improving blood pressure control in underserved communities.

“The question I spent the summer on was not what treatment works, but what actually gets a patient's blood pressure down when the barrier is a missed refill, no ride to the clinic or no way to afford healthy food,” Vyas said.

His proposal explored pharmacist-led medication management, community health workers and federally qualified health centers as ways to address those barriers.

Before medical school, Vyas worked as a healthcare financial analyst, an experience that gave him an early look at how coverage and financial decisions can affect access to care. 

“I want to practice as a physician who can see the system around a patient's care, not just the diagnosis in front of me, and who can say something useful when the people designing that system are in the room,” he said.

Freedman, of Houston, spent the summer working on two separate projects focused on healthcare and public policy.

As an intern with the Melanoma Research Foundation, he summarized research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference and examined access to melanoma care in rural communities.

Separately, through the Archer Fellowship Program, Freedman examined how interruptions in speech-language therapy can affect children and how public programs and policies influence access to those services.

“This project stood out because it allowed me to connect healthcare, education and public policy while considering how government action could improve developmental outcomes for thousands of children,” Freedman said.

Though he did not grow up in the Rio Grande Valley, Freedman said attending UTRGV School of Medicine has given him a greater understanding of healthcare challenges facing communities and influenced where he hopes to practice.

“I have grown to love the region and its community,” he said. “My experiences in the Valley have helped me understand the challenges that communities may face when seeking healthcare.”

RESEARCH CLOSE TO HOME 

For Ramos, from Harlingen, the summer provided an opportunity to pursue research and gain additional experience in primary care close to home. 

Under the mentorship of Dr. Xiaoqian Fang, associate professor of Neuroscience at the UTRGV School of Medicine, Ramos is collecting survey data on the use of selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, among gym-goers.

The project is Ramos' first experience conducting original research and has allowed her to take greater ownership of the research process.

“Dr. Fang provides us with the flexibility to take ownership of different aspects of the project while offering guidance and expertise when needed,” Ramos said.

At the same time, Ramos participated in the General Internal Medicine Statewide Preceptorship Program and Texas Family Medicine Preceptorship Program, which places first- and second-year medical students with practicing primary care physicians.

The experiences gave Ramos an opportunity to explore specialties she already was considering.

“I am really interested in whole-body specialties because it means a lot of variety in the conditions I can see and treat in my day-to-day,” she said. 

Her interest in medicine, however, began before she entered medical school. In 2020, Ramos' father was hospitalized, and she later became one of his caregivers at home. 

“Seeing how much of an impact the nurses and physicians made on my dad and our family really encouraged me to pursue a medical education, especially in the Rio Grande Valley,” she said.

The experiences gave all three students a chance to explore their interests early in their medical education – and return to the classroom this fall with a clearer picture of where those interests might lead.

Andrea Ramos, of Harlingen, is pictured at her White Coat Ceremony. She spent the summer conducting research and completing clinical preceptorships in internal and family medicine, gaining additional primary care experience close to home. (UTRGV Photo)

UTRGV – THE FUTURE OF TEXAS

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is shaping The Future of Texas by delivering a high-quality, affordable university experience centered on student success, academic excellence, research, healthcare and community impact. With tuition among the lowest in Texas, UTRGV gives its 35,000 students the opportunities of a major university, including Division I athletics and a new football program, while delivering exceptional value for Texas families. The only university in Texas with schools of Medicine, Podiatric Medicine and Optometry, UTRGV serves South Texas across nine communities while driving innovation and developing the talent that will move Texas forward.