Celebrating Hispanic Voices: A Spotlight on Dr. Jorge Medina

It's not every day that professors drive around town delivering hot meals to students in need, but for Dr. Jorge Medina, assistant professor in the UIW Feik School of Pharmacy (FSOP), doing so during the COVID-19 pandemic was a given. Concerned for those who were unable to gather with family during the Thanksgiving holiday of 2020 due to safety restrictions, Medina put out a simple ask - do you need a warm Thanksgiving meal, and if so, where should I drop it off?

Medina recalled delivering a meal to one student who, while mindful of social distancing guidelines, asked, "I know we're not supposed to, but can I just give you a hug?"

Medina's sincere act of kindness may seem extraordinary to some, but to him, it was simply how he was taught that people should treat one another all the time.

After being born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Medina quickly became a naturalized U.S. citizen and grew up in El Paso. He was raised by parents who modeled how to treat others,and in a culture that valued community.

"I would have to say that my Hispanic heritage does make a major impact on how I work with my students," Medina reflected. "My parents have always taught us to be kind to others, to reach out to serve others. And that's not only our Hispanic upbringing, but also our religious upbringing as Christians. That was just something that was instilled in us, that service is always a good thing to do, and that it sometimes ends up fulfilling you more in your soul than even the people who are the beneficiaries of the service."

With UIW's emphasis on service as a core value, it's no surprise that Medina now finds himself working at the University. Five years ago, the Feik School of Pharmacy needed a faculty member who could teach microbiology and biochemistry - it was what Medina described as his "dream job."

"UIW already had a reputation for serving the community, and that was something that I really gravitated towards," he explained. "I saw their Mission, and I thought that was something that I would love to be part of."

In his five years with the University, Medina has taken that Mission to heart. FSOP Associate Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Amy Diepenbrock shares that he has made a significant impact at the school by going the extra mile every day.

"In the days leading up to exams in his courses, he stays in his office after business hours to ensure he is available if students need assistance in understanding material," she described. "Each year before final exams, the Office of Student Affairs organizes efforts to have faculty and staff contribute to cook breakfast for our students. Year after year, Dr. Medina has cooked pounds and pounds of bacon on his grill to help give our students a homecooked meal."

While his efforts to support students are already impactful, Medina's service extends beyond the walls of UIW. As the advisor of FSOP's National Hispanic Pharmacy Association, he - in partnership with others across the University - was a champion of the organization's mission trips to Puerto Rico, where the team of UIW community members provided healthcare services, vaccinations and medical education to elderly residents of underserved communities.

"It was a life changing event, being able to serve that community and see how much of an impact we could really make," he reflected about his experience on of the trips. "It really was something that filled my heart completely."

Medina's travels also regularly take him to the Rio Grande Valley with the school's Office of Student Affairs, where he contributes to educational conferences for local students and their families. During his RGV trips, he has presented on the importance of vaccines to immunology, how to extract DNA from strawberries and more. He also conducts lab experiments and lectures each summer at the FSOP's annual PharmCAMP for high school students from the RGV. To him, this outreach is more than an opportunity to recruit students. It's part of a personal mission to provide positive role models for students who look like him.

"I didn't realize until I got older how I wish I would have had mentors that look like me, who could show me that, yes, you can get a PhD, yes, you can do great things out there," he explained. "Now, we're getting more and more Hispanic leaders that are going out into the community and serving as mentors and showing the students that they, too, can get an education and make an impact on this world."

Medina's impact is one that has been felt - and celebrated - by his students and colleagues. In 2021, he was voted the FSOP Teacher of the Year and named UIW's Advisor of the Year. An additional recognition followed this year, when he was named the school's 2024 P1 Teacher of the Year. Though nothing he does is for recognition or a pat on the back, the awards symbolize to him that he's on the right path.

"When I see that the students feel that what I do does make a difference, that I am making an impact, it's one of the reasons that I love this job," he shared. "Being able to touch someone's life in some small way, whether by being their cheerleader right before an exam or trying to give them encouragement during those difficult parts of the semester … I think I realized that I was making a difference, and it really touched my heart."

As he continues to foster connections, uplift students, and serve those in need, Medina embodies the spirit of the UIW Mission. His work not only transforms the lives of his students but also inspires a new generation of Hispanic leaders, proving that with compassion, dedication and a servant's heart, we can allmake a difference.

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