West Texas, known for its thriving oil and gas sector, particularly in the Permian Basin, also encompasses vast rural areas outside of the Midland region. These regions are still grappling with a lack of healthcare services.
In a recent news release from Midland College, it was revealed that two students are aspiring to become healthcare practitioners in West Texas. Lourdes Acosta and Abigail Hightower have been enrolled for the past two years in the Primary Care Pathway Program (PCPP). This program is a collaborative initiative between Midland College, University of North Texas (UNT), Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM), and Midland Health. Both students are on track to graduate from Midland College with an Associate of Science degree and have already secured their spots at TCOM's medical school. Their journey will continue with a year of concentrated science and math classes at UNT.
Acosta said, "I have wanted to be a doctor since I was a little girl. I had a lot of allergies when I was a child, and I was in and out of clinics." She further shared her experiences growing up in Alpine where medical appointments often required traveling to Odessa or El Paso. The travel expenses and time commitment made these trips challenging for many Alpine residents. Acosta expressed her goal to serve her hometown after completing her medical education: "When I graduate from medical school, my goal is to complete a residency in obstetrics/gynecology and then settle in Alpine so that I can help the residents of Alpine and the surrounding area in far West Texas."
The news release elaborated on the structure of the PCPP program. Students spend three years at undergraduate level—two years at Midland College followed by one year at UNT—and then four years at TCOM's medical school. During this period, they observe and perform clinical rotations with Midland Health. If students maintain an adequate GPA, they can spend a year at UNT and then transfer to TCOM after an extensive interview process.
Hightower shared her enthusiasm for the program, saying, "I loved every single minute that I was in the healthcare classes, and I knew that I wanted to go further. When I heard about the Primary Care Pathway Program at Midland College and learned that I could graduate with a medical degree in seven years and possibly be accepted into medical school without taking the MCAT exam, it was really a ‘no brainer.’"