10/08/2026
Medical students at the UTRGV School of Medicine are helping children and teens across the Rio Grande Valley explore careers in health care through RISE, a student-led program offering mentorship and hands-on learning.
Short for Reaching, Inspiring and Supporting Excellence for Youth, RISE has reached more than 150 young people through activities ranging from practicing suturing and exploring ultrasound technology to learning how the human body works.
For Natasha Bell, a fourth-year medical student who helped found the initiative, those experiences are opportunities to help young people imagine their futures.
“RISE started with a simple idea — that one experience can change how a student sees their future,” Bell said. “When students can step into these roles and see themselves in them, it builds confidence and opens doors they may not have imagined before.”
Read more here: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2026/10/2/rise-program-introduces-youth-to-health-care-careers.htm
