Yesterday I attended residency commencement exercises for the first group of resident physicians to graduate from the TTUHSC Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. It was also the first residency graduation for our new Graduate Medical Education Dean Dr. Armando Meza. Dr. Meza was formerly the residency program director for internal medicine. We congratulate him and wish him well in his new duties. Dr. Luis Urrea, President of the El Paso County Medical Society gave the commencement address to the 62 physicians who graduated.

It was heartwarming to see so many family members, especially children, waiting anxiously to see their mom or dad walk across the stage. These doctors have spent many, many hours away from their families in order to perfect their craft. Some have been with us one year, others longer. Along the way they have learned much about being all the things we strive for them to be--compassionate doctors, good teachers and researchers, and excellent role models. During my charge to them, I gave them an additional task—take care of your families and look to them to fill the other roles that your profession can never, and will never fill. To the four physicians who will stay on as junior faculty with us, I say welcome and thank you for joining the Texas Tech family. I wish the best of luck to each and every one of our 62 graduates!

Last week I attended two conferences. Each proved to be enlightening to everyone who attended because they both focused on the very issues our community on the border experiences daily. I facilitated a panel discussion at the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission conference at the Camino Real on the issues of children from infant to age 21. Dr. Gilbert Handal, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics also attended the conference. During the conference, recommendations for a study were made for what we thought were the top 12 concerns regarding children living along the border. Some of these recommendations included international adoption, street children, gangs, and drug use. We focused quite a bit on adolescent issues.

The U.S. Border Health Association conference held at UTEP, included state, county and city representatives and health officials from both sides of the border. Our goal was to facilitate communication of public health emergencies. It’s important that we continue to communicate and strategize because as I’ve often said, disease knows no borders. In case you haven’t noticed or felt some of the excitement and buzz around the hallways, we’re almost exactly four weeks to the day that our Paul L. Foster students begin their classes. I’ll leave you with that thought. Have a great weekend!

Jose Manuel de la Rosa, M.D.